Module 7 †Reflective Practice and Professional Development

Certificate in Education Module 7 – Reflective Practice and Professional Development Report to compare teaching roles In any organisation there must be some structure and it is this that leads to a selection of teaching and management roles within education. All roles are focused on the quality of service provided to not only the learners but to the community, our stakeholders, awarding bodies, funders and parents. The 3 roles I have chosen for comparison are Team Manager, which is my role at NN, a Trainer on the foundation learning programme at NN and the role of Learning Support Assistant.I have collected the information by talking to and observing, the trainer on foundation learning. I have researched the post of LSA as this is a role that I need to employ in the New Year for the new programme I will be running. I have 12 learners on programme at any given time, the course is entry 3 and the maximum I have in a group is 6. The courses are a mixture of practical and theory f or example the driving theory course as the name suggests is mainly theory however the nail technicians course is mainly practical.The trainer on foundation learning has a maximum of 16 learners and the level ranges between entry 3 and level 1. He does 75% practical and 25% theory as he gets the learners to take a lot of responsibility for their own learning. The LSA that I will be employing will be working on a 1:1 or 1:2 basis. We all work with 16-18 year olds that have not fitted into mainstream education. . I have split the responsibilities into sections of common themes to compare the roles. My role as Team Manager is to plan and direct the activities of the team.Through Team meetings and one to one support & supervision sessions we discuss the needs of current and potential learners, with this information in mind, I then need to create Schemes of Work which not only meet the individual needs of the learner and the targets, but also the standards and outcomes set by senior mana gement, funders and regulatory bodies. The session plans are then created by either myself or the trainers for the appropriate programme. The LSA’s, trainers and myself are all responsible for working from the session plans and ensuring that outcomes and targets are met and standards adhered to.As a group we would also discuss what additional resources and materials would be necessary for the course and create an essential list and a wish list. It would then be my responsibility to check what was available within the budget and authorise any additional spending. I am responsible for risk assessing and ensuring the health & Safety of the staff and learners. The trainers are responsible for the health and safety of themselves and learners during sessions and have a responsibility to bring to the attention of the team manager anything that arises during their sessions.The LSA has a responsibility to report any health and safety issue to their line manager. We all have a responsi bility to ensure that our areas are clean, tidy and secure at the end of each session. I am responsible for learner registrations, arranging internal and external verification and attending standardisation meetings. The trainers are responsible for providing me or their team manager with the necessary information for us to do the registrations and to ensure that learner’s portfolios are completed to an acceptable standard.The LSA’s can complete learner progress reports and are responsible for completing the tasks with the learners that have been set by the trainer. All of the roles are responsible for discipline and classroom management, the trainer is responsible for the discipline and management of the whole class, the LSA, alongside the trainer is responsible for the learners they are working with and I am responsible overall for making any final decisions about discipline and behavioural issues. On my project specifically, I allow the learners quite a lot more lati tude initially as my focus is on engagement following a long period of no education.The trainer on FL would expect a far greater standard of behaviour as he is preparing the learners for further training or employment. Ideally we would see a journey of improving behaviour from when they start on my course to when they finish on FL. The LSA’s are responsible for setting up equipment and resources whilst the trainer is responsible for deciding which equipment to use, designing any handouts/resources and ensure that resources are used effectively and efficiently. I need to ensure that there are adequate resources for the trainers including purchasing and designing my own resources whilst remaining inside the allocated budget.I am responsible for securing adequate funding to provide appropriate resources. We are all responsible for the learning journey of the learner; the LSA must be impartial when assisting the learners and ensure that their practice is professional and inclusiv e. The trainer is responsible for ensuring the practice with the group is inclusive and that they can challenge any discriminatory behaviour and attitudes. They design individualised learning plans with the learners and the LSA’s work towards goals set with the learners on these plans.I need to ensure that any new paperwork is designed within our, and other regulatory bodies, codes of practice. The trainer is responsible for completing initial assessments with the learner and I am responsible for ensuring that initial assessments take place and that all relevant paperwork is completed. The LSA would not be expected to do initial assessments however would be expected to contribute to learning reviews. I am responsible for ensuring that practice and assessments are standardised. All staff are required to attend standardisation meetings for the various awarding bodies that we use.This ensures that our assessments are fair, reliable, sufficient and valid. The Trainer on FL would be expected to work with external bodies to find and maintain suitable work placements however on my course this is not as relevant. The Team manager along with the health and Safety manager would be responsible for carrying out a risk assessment on the placement. The trainer is responsible for communicating with colleagues and attending meetings to ensure that training is standardised. They are responsible for collecting information that could be needed by others and passing it to their line manager.I am responsible for collating performance data to present to senior management, external agencies and regulatory bodies. In addition I am responsible for leading, managing, developing and motivating staff, including support & supervision and arranging adequate cover. I control and monitor expenditure against a set budget and contribute to the budget setting process. I am responsible for maintaining the viability of my project and work with my team manager colleagues to ensure that we m aximise, and identify any potential use of any shared resources.I am responsible for developing relationships with referral agencies, stakeholders and partnership agencies and where required work collaboratively in a multi agency setting, whilst maintaining confidentiality of information. The conclusion is that there are a lot of similarities between the roles as they are all predominantly based on supporting the learning journey of young people. All roles are vital for the success of the young people. The differences are based around the levels of responsibility and accountability.

McDonald marketing planning Essay

The complexity of marketing planning means that when organizations embark on it, they should expect to encounter a number of organizational, attitudinal, process and cognitive problems (McDonald 2002). This essay is an attempt to outline some of those problems, however it is beyond this essay to clarify all possible barriers in implementing a marketing plan. After the potential barriers are of implementation are specified the essay will try and give possible solutions. The essay will first look at organizational constraints and then progress onto operational barriers. Organizational barriers It is not uncommon for marketing planners to experience difficulties in gaining wholehearted executive commitment for an ongoing programmed of, planning implementation and control. This is often due to a lack of evidence linking marketing planning to direct financial benefit. This problem is less prevalent in the other organisational disciplines of Management, Production, Finance and Human Resource. Although marketing describes itself as the key business discipline- and rightly so if properly applied-vested interests often prevail to obstruct its centrality (McDonald 2002). In practice the other strands are able to flex varying degrees of muscle with the result that is often marginalised. Part of the problem is that marketing is perceived as an abstract art form rather than a science. Although a new status- that of Chartered Marketer- has been accorded to qualifying members of the Chartered Institute of marketing (Ree.C. 2000), the level of public awareness is low. A major cause for concern is that many organisations separate the three disciplines of business (production, HR, AND marketing). The problem with separating the three disciplines is that there will be a lack of participation of the key functions of the company. This is why a market-orientated approach is needed. As far back as the 1960’s Lear (1963)  recognised the barriers involved and that, whilst marketing orientation was desirable from the point of view of customers, the efficiency based structure of most organisations limited what could be achieved. Morgan and Piercy (1991) cite lack of proper training as a major inhibitor of marketing orientation this in turn can lead to weak systems and therefore weak, poorly valued marketing. Marketing orientation is of course a cultural issue. Smircich (1983) sought to define organisational culture as â€Å"something, which may be influenced, changed and manipulated, and in turn influence, change and manipulate members and features of an organization†. (Smircich 1983 p359) In her article, Wilson (2000) quotes an assumption that â€Å"culture develops through problem solving within an organisation but suggests that the lack of clarity of definition leaves us with the conclusion that culture is formed from a variety of external manifestations (observed as behaviors and processes) backed up by belief systems. This complexity may be the main reason why culture moves slowly- it involves changing behaviors and shaking beliefs†. (Wilson 1998 p3) The slow acceptance of new cultural developments like market orientation and the convergence of departments could act as a barrier in the adoption and implementation of market planning techniques. Operational barriers The design and implementation process of marketing planning can be subject to numerous amounts of possible problems. Many companies have now opted for formalized marketing procedures, McDonald states that â€Å"introduction of formalized marketing planning systems have serious organizational and behavioral implications for a company as it requires a change in its approach to managing its business.† (McDonald, 2002, p79) Unless businesses recognize these implications and seek ways of coping with these changes their planning could fail. This essay is now going to focus on possible operational barriers a business may face, when designing and implementing a marketing plan. McDonald states, â€Å"A major cause of failure or partial failure of marketing planning systems is the belief that once a system is designed, it can be implemented immediately.† (McDonald 2002 p82) Businesses who subscribe to this view often fail to implement a timetable for their plans. This can cause them to not fully plan the planning process. The inadequate planning could cause ineffective plans as they are not tried and tested, it could also cause them not being communicated successfully. McDonald discuss how â€Å"planning the planning process above all gives a resolute sense of purpose, and dedication is required, tempered by patience and a willingness to appreciate the inevitable problems which will be encountered in its implementation†. (McDonald 2002 p82) Possible problems can occur in the presentation of the planning terms. Confusion between members of an organisation concerning the content of the marketing plan can be elevated due to perplex terminology and excessive amount of information and detail. Planners are usually highly skilled and use expressions, which can be perceived by operational managers as meaningless jargon (McDonald 2002). Elaborate systems can often be blamed for over planning. Over planning can create huge amount of data and information, which may not necessarily be needed. This can be de-motivating for all concerned and cause loss of focus to the main issues (McDonald 2002 p85). McDonald writes about how the once a year ritual culture is one of the most common weaknesses in the marketing planning systems (McDonald 2002). Some Managers see the writing of a marketing plan as a troublesome activity, which is only completed to satisfy headquarters. This could lead to the plans being thrown aside and not properly completed or followed. McDonald states that â€Å"whilst this is obviously closely related to other explanations as to why some planning systems are ineffective, a common feature of companies that treat marketing planning as a once a year ritual is the short lead time given for the completion of the process, managers tend to relegate it to secondary importance.† (McDonald 2002 p86) Manager’s confusion over tactics and strategy form the foundations of why so many businesses become less profitable. McDonald articulates that â€Å"a tactical `plan covers in quite a lot of detail the actions to be taken, by whom, during a short term planning period. This is usually for one year or less. A strategic plan is a plan, which covers a period beyond the next fiscal year. Usually this is for between three and five years†. (McDonald 2002 p31) Previous decades have seen businesses using short-term tactical marketing. Many businesses used their short-term tactical strategies as a justification as to why they had been successful. McDonald is in disagreement with this and believes firms using these tactics were largely successful in the 1970s and 80s due to the simple environment and the easy marketability of products and services (MacDonald 2002). The increased complexity of today’s markets has meant that businesses need to have a more strategic and long-term approach. However McDonald explains that even when several businesses realize they need to take a more strategic approach they implement strategies, which are more sales forecasting and budgeting (McDonald 2002). The reason for this misguidance is that managers can confuse operational planning and strategic planning; some even argue that the two are separate entities, whereas they are very much interlinked. The mistake made by many  mangers is that the figures that appear in the long-term corporate plan are little more than statistical extrapolations that satisfy boards of directors (McDonald 2002). This common misdemeanor subjects the operational and the long-term plans to begum divorced from each other. The short-term plans become reactionary and the long-term plans lose their relevance and much needed cohesion and logic. McDonald explains, â€Å"This separation positively discourages operational managers from thinking strategically, with the result that detailed operational plans are created in a vacuum†. (McDonald 2002 p88) A real life example of a business separating tactics and long-term strategy was Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Ben and Jerry’s had enjoyed good profitability until 1994 when their target market which consisted of exclusive high priced ice cream eaters shifted to more affordable ice cream. This lead Ben and Jerry’s to re-evaluate their once alluring pricing strategy and engage in a price war, which ultimately meant a loss of profitability. Ben and Jerry’s lost market share because they failed to change themselves and adapt to a new competitive environment because of organisational inertia. To overcome this Ben and jerry’s need to identify the changing tastes of consumers. To do this they need to develop a marketing plan, they showed no real evidence in doing this in the past. Ben and Jerry’s reliance on cause-generated marketing (short- term) had its benefits of adaptability, however long-term marketing planning has focus. (Gilbert.G. 2001) The implementation of marketing planning is very reliant upon good information. Poor information can erect possible barriers in achieving business objectives. Piper and Smith conclude, â€Å"The basic logic of strategic planning is the production of a system which allows the matching of internal strengths with external opportunities whilst offsetting internal weaknesses and outside threats†. (Piper and Smith 2002 p32) The barrier to affectively achieving this is obtaining the right information Piper and Smith state that â€Å"poor information can be as damaging as ones made on intuition and past experience† (Piper and Smith 2002,p32) A classic example of businesses gathering insufficient information was coca-cola. In the late 70s and early 80s coca-cola’s research found out that the taste of their product was not recognized as superior to the other cola drinks. This led coca-cola to change the taste. In testing the new and improved flavor they used blind test research. The test concluded that a larger percentage of people choosing the new flavored coca-cola drink over any other drink. This led them to dramatically introduce the new flavor instead of the old one. Although initially this went well, people started to complain that Americas symbol and long-term friend had betrayed them. People started to stockpile the old coke and turn down the new flavor. Coca-cola received over 40,000 complaint letters and America even laid plans to file a class action lawsuit against coca-cola (Hartley 1998). Obtaining adequate research information from audits is very problematic and expensive. Acquiring good information is often a barrier in the process of a good marketing plan. Solutions on design and implementation barriers Wicks writes an interesting article about how the marketing department within businesses must market themselves in order to gain good funding and support. Wicks argues that a too familiar story in business is that of marketing departments budgets being cut in poor times, which leaves a demoralized marketing team. To back this claim up a recent survey by the university of Warwick asked top managers if business was poor what would be the first thing cut. In number one spot came marketing with 23% (Wicks 2002). To solve this problem Wicks argued that a similar approach to that of focusing externally on customers must be adopted internally. The customer is senior management and the competition is other department’s who are also partners,  as they may share some of the budget if done correctly (Wicks 2002). Wicks states â€Å"the next step is to sell the department and relate everything to the goals of senior management and keep things simple†. (Wicks 2002 p4) The convergence and inter department co-operation is largely a cultural thing. McDonald states â€Å"marketing is a management process whereby the resources of the whole organisation are utilized to satisfy the needs of selected customer groups in order to achieve the objectives of both parties. Marketing, then, is first and foremost an attitude of mind rather than a series of functional activities†. (McDonald 2002 p565) Rose (1990) proffered that success lies in engaging the employee with the goals of the Company†¦ aligning the wishes, needs and aspirations of each individual who works for the organisation with the successful pursuit of its objectives. Hodgetts (2000) insist that companies seeking to survive in the `00s must create organisational design based on sharing authority, responsibility, and resources amongst people and divisions to achieve common goals. By this means, managers will be able to change their strategies, continually realigning their organisations with emerging opportunities, then articulating the new strategies so everyone knows what the organisation is about. The convergence of departments and non-isolation of marketing is crucial in the co-operation in marketing planning, Organisational culture has a significant impact on if and how hierarchical change can be implemented. By centering an organisation on its knowledge, and allowing free flow of that knowledge, it is possible to break down these barriers (Cive. E.2000). McDonald argues that one of the most debated issues in marketing planning today is where the responsibility for setting objectives and strategies should lie (McDonald 2002). What is not argued by McDonald is that  short-tactics and long-term strategy should not be separated or misunderstood. McDonald believes that operational planning and strategic planning should be very much part of the same process, he states that â€Å"wherever possible they should be completed at the same, using the same managers and the same information process†. (McDonald 2002 p88) The strategic plan should be completed first and cover a period of between three and five years and when this is completed the operational and more detailed plan should be created (McDonald 2002). McDonald concludes, â€Å"Never write the one year plan first and extrapolate it†. (McDonald 2002 p564) The integration of tactics and strategy should stop the divergence of the short-term thrust of a business at the operational level from the long-term objectives of the enterprise (McDonald 2002). It should also prevent the preoccupation with short-term results at operational level, which according to McDonald makes a business less effective in the long run (McDonald 2002). Once the planning system is designed and tested a major problem that has to be avoided is the excessive planning and detailed as mentioned earlier. McDonald maintains that in successful companies there is at all levels a wide spread understanding of the key objectives that have to be achieved and a means of achieving them. This cohesiveness is achieved by a means of layering. At each level management analysis is synthesized into a form that ensures that only the essential information needed for decision purposes reaches the next level (McDonald 2002). The presentation of strategic plans should be clear and concise. A good marketing plan should be no more than about a dozen PowerPoint slides that can be easily read, understood, and shared widely. It must support the overall business strategy and contain simple success metrics that link to the financial goals of senior management (Wicks 2002). As mentioned earlier the acquisition of good and reliable data can prove to be a barrier in the implementation of a marketing plan. Poor information could render a marketing plan unsuccessful. Alice Clegg argues that researchers need to apply judgment and to have a broad base of knowledge and know how to integrate evidence successfully, from both qualitative and quantitative sources. McDonald argues that a company should have good sound information flow and scan the environment thoroughly. This could be done through adequate sources of information and internal databases of information. This should lead to more detailed forecasting and limited possible problems. In concluding a business should strive for a culture, which embraces cross-departmental involvement in marketing. Marketing should be state of mind in every member of an organization. The marketing planning structure should be adequately planned and tested. A business should have a systematic procedure with a common format. The long-term strategic plan should cover between three and five years and be interlinked with the one-year operational plan. Within the plans a systematic system should be developed to prioritize objectives and interlinked them. The environment should be thoroughly scanned and information should be passed up the channels through a laying system, which only allow relevant information to be passed on. Conclusion Marketing planning is a series of activities concerning objectives, auditing, analysis and assumptions. The complexity of it renders it subject to possible problems and barriers. Organisational culture and management ignorance are major barriers in implementation of a marketing plan. Some organisation seem to not merit the possible benefits of strategic planning, they cut marketing budgets and isolate the department. Managers can confuse the short-term plans with the long-term plans. Short-term plans are often prepared first which regularly means they are reactionary and discourage managers thinking strategically. Organisations should create a culture, which embraces marketing, it is, and  should be a state of mind, with all departments involved. Organisations should develop the strategic long-term plan first and then create the short-term operational plans. The marketing planning process should be structured and planned extensively, with objectives listed in importance. Marketing planning and implementation face many barriers however following structured and planned models can avert and foresee potential problems.

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - Essay Example This essay analyzes and explains satirical elements in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Analysis A large aspect of Mark Twain’s satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is through the satirizing of religion. Such types of satire take place in a large variety of ways throughout the book. The first instance occurs during the opening chapter when Widow Douglas reads to Huckleberry Finn from the Bible. Huck states, â€Å"After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers, and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take no stock in dead people† (Twain, p. 3). Here Huck is showing that while he was at first interested in Moses, after discovering that Moses is dead he lost interest. Here Twain is using quiet irony as a means of satirizing religion. For Huck Moses is not appreciated for his religious significance for freeing the Jews from Egypt or receiving the Ten Commandments, but instead is only interested in Moses for the real life adventure story. In a sense this is Twain’s way of demonstrating that he holds no real interest in religion. For Huck the rejection of religion assumes a variety of ways. Huck also rejects having to pray before meals and calls it grumbling. When Huck hears about Hell he responds that he would like to go there, as he doesn’t understand what the point in going to good places is. While Huck’s understanding of religion is presented as ignorance, it’s clear that Twain implements this as a humorous critique of religion. Another prominent example where Twain satirizes religion occurs when Jim and Huck escape and spend time on an island. In large part the island is a dystopian version of the Garden of Eden. Twain is indirectly mocking the nature of such a mystical land, as well as criticizing the nature of sla very, as Jim has to retreat to this island as a means of achieving freedom. One clearly witnesses the religious imagery when the rattlesnake bites Jim. In a sense this is Twain’s way of indicating that the nature of the social situation is ultimately tainted by backward policies and immorality. In addition to Huck’s interactions with Widow Douglas religion is satirized in many ways throughout the book. One such example occurs as Huck talks to Miss Watson. During his discussions with Miss Watson she presents a version of God as mean and angry. This version of God is in direct contrast to Widow Doulgas’ version of God as loving and accepting. This leads Huck to claim that there are two Gods and that he wants to follow Window Douglas’ God. Through such comparisons and irony, Twain is demonstrating the oftentimes nonsense ways of religion. Huck also talks about prayer. He states, â€Å"Miss Watson she took me in the closet and prayed, but nothing come of it. She told me to pray every day, and whatever I asked for I would get it. But it warn't so. I tried it. Once I got a fish-line, but no hooks† (Twain, p. 15). Here Twain is satirizing the nature of prayer, as many people pray as they expect God to help them or change something in their lives. Rather than praying for something important, Huck prays for fishing material; this is a way for Twain to use subtlety to mock the

Literature & research review of workforce diversity in healthcare Essay

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Research Review Report for Services and Relationship Marketing Paper

Review Report for Services and Relationship Marketing - Research Paper Example Relationship marketing refers to the process of identifying and establishing, sustaining, enhancing, and when deemed necessary, ending relationships with customers and other organizational stakeholders at a gain; in doing so, all the parties involved achieve their objectives. In the pursuit of all these, mutual giving and fulfillment of promises becomes a focal point in businesses, thus making relationship marketing a very crucial aspect in the services and relationship marketing management of firms today. Relationship marketing is beneficial to firms because it is an effective way of fostering customer loyalty and re-patronage behavior; consumers who are actively engaged in relational exchanges present with higher levels of satisfaction than those who are in discrete transactions. These higher levels of satisfaction could be attributed to the ease and psychological comfort that consumers will tend to have because of purchasing from a familiar company. In this regard, many companies consider investments in complaint handling a strategic route of increasing customer commitment to the firms and building customer loyalty that lasts as long as both parties are in business. Service firms are prone to mistakes that oftentimes result in regrettable service failures that are potentially harmful to their profitability and market reputation; in this regard, service failures present the firms an opportunity to demonstrate excellent service experience and ensure customer retention. However, the service recovery paradox states that customers are more likely to leave a service failure more satisfied and loyal to their firms than when there is no service failure, so long as their problem is resolved efficiently. This paper presents a critical review of 3 peer-reviewed journal articles with an aim of establishing whether customer loyalty is considered a critical antecedent to the success of post-recovery satisfaction, whether compensation is always necessary in service recover y, and whether the â€Å"service recovery paradox† is influenced by the severity of the service failure. Review After a systematic, intensive, and extensive research review, it has emerged that indeed customer loyalty is a critical precursor to the success of post-recovery satisfaction, compensation is always necessary in service recovery, and the severity of the service failure influences the â€Å"service recovery paradox† accordingly. According to Tax, Brown, and Chandrashekaran (1998), recovering effectively from service failures contributes remarkably to customer evaluations of firms. Firms that engage in effective complaint handling strategies have extremely high customer retention rates, which eventually deflect the impact of bad publicity from damaging word of mouth, thereby achieving increased outcomes in terms of increased returns on investment, among other positive outcomes. A case study in the article recorded $11 million of additional revenue in a fiscal y ear, apart from the highest customer retention rate in the industry, after having implemented a service guarantee that was part of an initiative to ensure customer problems are dealt with effectively (Tax, Brown, & Chandrashekaran, 1998). Effective resolution of customer problems and relationship marketing lead to customer satisfaction, enhanced trust, and commitment; complaint handling strategies particularly in managing customer relationships in service businesses are very crucial in today’

Law of evidence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Law of evidence - Essay Example One example is the case of R v Cannings [2004], where the convictions for the murder of the defendant's sons were quashed on the basis of new medical evidence which discredited the expert witness at trial.2 Although the expert witness (a doctor) was a recognised professional in his field at the time, evidence later showed that his account of what he thought took place was actually fabricated and not backed by the evidence.3 Although the test at the time was passed, the actual quality of the evidence was controversial, so even in this case where the doctor was seemingly an expert at the time, his testimony proved to be damaging at trial. "The better and now more widely accepted view is that so long as a field is sufficiently well-established to pass the ordinary tests of relevance and reliability, then no enhanced test for admissibility should be applied, but the weight of the evidence should be established by the same adversarial forensic techniques applicable elsewhere."4 This test is the current common-law test in order to determine if expert testimony should be submitted. The case involved lip reading evidence being questioned as it is not an exact science or profession; the court held that this passed the test for relevance and reliability which is all that was needed to be allowed. Here, although the validity of the expert evidence was questioned, it proved to be accurate and sufficient. Another case which operated along these lines is that of R v Dallagher (Mark Anthony) [2002], which involved the admission of an ear-print expert who was brought in to analyse and compare an ear-print found at the crime scene with that of the defendant; the court held that although the field is relatively small, the expert was part of a group which were recognised within the field.5 Expected opinion evidence is used in order to assist the court and jury on matters which lie outside the experience or understanding of ordinary jurors or justices.6 If jurors or justices can be expected to understand evidence from their own view on any issue without such expert assistance, then expert testimony is not to be received, as was held in the case of Folkes v Chadd [1782].7 Trials operate on the premise that "courts and juries do not need psychiatrists to tell them how ordinary folk who are not suffering from mental illness are likely to react to the stresses of life."8 The case of R v Henry; R v Manning [1968] held that low IQ is not a mental illness and expert evidence was not admissible to explain behaviour where no mental illness exists.9 Expert evidence will ordinarily be considered necessary and admissible on matters of science, medicine, authenticity or questions of foreign law.10 There are also dangers with expert

Education Through Imagination Essay Example for Free

Education Through Imagination Essay William Butler Yeats said, â€Å"Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.†(The Language of Composition, Yeats page 174) As a high school student aspiring to be an actress, I most certainly agree with his intelligent statement. Education to me, just as to Yeats, is not about having the maximum capacity of knowledge in every subject; it is finding that burning desire to learn about whatever it is that interests you. It is unnecessary to fill our heads with facts that will essentially be useless in our future, personal lives. Instead, we should be inspired to go and learn about the subjects that we are passionate towards, or at least what is related to those passions. For instance, as a student working in the direction of becoming a theatre major, it is not under my impression that it should be mandatory of me to participate in classes that do not involve some type of lessons that will aid my acting career. Here is an example: I’m not going to rely on my knowledge of math or science to pursue a successful profession in theatre. But as an alternative I should become well-informed about many types of literature. The subject of English will be the most helpful to me while going through life as a performer of the arts. Yeats’ description of education reminds me somewhat of another quote from the highly gifted Albert Einstein. Einstein said, â€Å"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.† (GoodReads, Einstein, www. Goodreads.com/quotes/tag/imagination). Both of them touch on the importance of the free mind, and how some knowledge is not always necessarily needed in life. Now, don’t misunderstand the meanings of these expressions. By no means should knowledge as a whole be absent from your qualities, but your main focus should not be to overflow your mind with knowledge. This topic is very controversial- most people would disagree in a heartbeat. People who disagree have a right to their opinion, but, they must also respect the opposing one too. The way that these theories are worded just provokes close-minded people to argument. But, if they were to try and un derstand the importance of what your imagination can teach you, they may change their minds. From my personal standpoint, by practicing the art of imagination, and by allowing my mind chase its dreams, I have fueled a spark in myself that has lit a fire. This fire is why I burn to be educated about the performing arts and all of the beautiful things I learn about myself while doing so. I have learned more and more about myself every day that I let my imagination educate me. My experiences at school have never come close to revealing the amount of truth in learning as my minds eye has. Einstein also said, â€Å"Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.† (Albert Einstein, brainyquote.com) Therefore, it is what we take away from our education that shows what we have really learned. These are the things we will apply in our lives. We will prosper through the things we enjoy, and forget the useless information. Though to say what information is useless is entirely up to each individual. Also, as time passes we may change our minds as to what is useful to us or not, but that is the beauty of being able to change our minds and educate ourselves about whatever makes us happy. It is passion that drives us, and passion that will truly educate us. â€Å"Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.† (Anthony J. D’Angelo, quotationsbook.com/quote) If you are to take anything away from these words let it be this: Have a desire to learn, and be passionate about your education.

Analysing Islamic Law And Polygamy Religion Essay

Analysing Islamic Law And Polygamy Religion Essay Should a man have more than one wife? Im going to answer this with referencing from the Islamic law and my opinion with facts to back it up. Under Islamic law a man is allowed up to 4 wives but he must be able to show that he can treat woman equally and provide a separate home for each of them. The truth of the matter is that, the Law says every Muslim according to the religion can marry more than one woman. Article 6 Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961 of Pakistan explains that it extends to the whole of Pakistan and applies to all Muslim citizens of Pakistan wherever they may be. No man, during the subsistence of an existing marriage, shall, except with the previous permission in writing of the Arbitration Council, contract another marriage, nor shall any such marriage contracted without such permission be registered under the Muslim Marriages and Divorces (Registration) Act, 1974. The God thy worship Allah has commanded the Muslims to marry, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦And marry those among you w ho are singleà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ This quote illustrates that a man can marry as many as he wishes but as long as the woman around them are single. The religion of Islam has been revealed for a long time to many societies. So therefore accommodates widely to different social requirements. Circumstances may warrant the taking of another wife but the right is granted, according to the Quran, only on one condition that the husband is scrupulously fair. The Quran is the only religious scripture in the world that says, marry only one. A Muslim marriage is not a sacrament like Christianity, but a simple, legal agreement in which either partner is free to include conditions. In Islam, marriage is essentially a contract. However, the division between sacred and secular was never explicit in Islam. Any action or transaction in Islam has religious implications. It is not quite accurate, therefore, to designate marriage in Islam simply as a secular contract. The appropriate designation of marriage could be a Divine Institution. Islam recognizes the value of sex and advocates marriage. Islam does not believe in celibacy. Nushaba Hussein, the chair of the Human Rights Action Committee of the Muslim Parliament says recognising polygamy would give legal recourse to women. In Islam, limited polygamy is permitted. Polygamy is one of the main targets for criticism on the part of non-Muslims and even some who claim to be Muslims. However, polygamy is not something that appeared with the advent of Islam, it has been practiced for a very long time. Believe it or not, Christians also believed/practised polygamy; the ban on polygamy in Christianity is a man-made prohibition, not divine law. In the Quran it says If you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphans, marry women of your choice, two, three, or four, but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one. The verse illustrates the sincere teachings of Islam regarding polygamy and includes the command to treat wives equally, and anyone who is unable to do so should marry only one women. I generally believe that if it is clearly stated in the Quran, Muslims should be allowed to marry as many wives as they please. The Quran is what Muslims use as their guidance so if the Holy Book permits them then it is their choice to make their own decision. I do not think anyone has the right to question what they believe since we all have different opinions and backgrounds; every individual human beings are different. Equality includes all social, economical and physical needs. It is very difficult for human beings to be completely fair, a fact which is recognised by the Quran . Which is proven in the world today. At times, the wife may be incapable of pregnancy and the husband desires to have children. Polygamy can also serve as a solution to this problem. Some men are not satisfied with one woman. By recognising this need of a man, Islam permitted them to marry more than one wife, rather than falling into the trap of adultery and fornication. These are just some of the reasons and wisdoms behind the permissibility of practicing polygamy. This is the decision of Allah, and it must be accepted by Muslims. According to the Islamic faith, the Quran can be challenged. In the Holy book, it goes into depth more on how the women should be treated and the rights they have as a wife. No one may argue that religious law is more important than state law, so if it is against their religious morals then men should be allowed to marry more than one women. However, in the religion it is not obligatory so it all goes down to the choices the men make. Polygamy is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife. Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your ardent desire: But turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave her (as it were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding, and practise self-restraint, God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. Here we clearly see that Allah tells men that they will never be fair to their wives. He tells the men the pre-cautions of what they are about and gives a clear warning. Additionally it clearly nullifies the excuse that Allah gave them to practice polygamy. I personally believe from the No ble Quran that polygamy should not be allowed today to most Muslim men in the Muslim world. I am going to say yes, men should be allowed to have more than one wife especially if it has something to do with their faith and what they believe in. I do not believe that men should use this, as an advantage or practice polygamy for the sake of sexual pleasure but as a blessing. If people practice polygamy without being thoughtful to others, I am sure that Allah will take that negatively toward them, because Allah clearly demanded in the Quran that men should be fair, and think thoroughly before having multiple wives. He clearly encouraged men to settle down with one wife.

The Sound and the Fury Essay -- Sound Fury

The Sound and the Fury: Chronology of Despair Three little boys watch wearily and fearfully as their sister shimmies quickly up a tree to peer through the window of a dilapidated Southern farmhouse. Our attention focuses neither on her reaction to the festivities commencing in the house, nor on the danger suspended nervously in the dusky air as the tiny image worms up the tree trunk. Sensing the distress apparent in the boys’ words and actions, our eyes rivet to the same thing that fills their faces with apprehension—the dark and muddied stain of filth firmly planted on the bottom of the little girl’s underpants. This scene from William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury illustrates Faulkner’s incredible talent for storytelling that has enabled him to trap readers and critics in his spectrum of characters for decades. Weaving intense characters together with stories of despair and triumph, Faulkner produces a tapestry that blankets readers with his love/hate relationship with the South. However, in his novel The Sound and the Fury, Faulkner employs a vastly different method of creation. This story unfolds as a patchwork of chronological events told through the experiences, memories, and interpretations of three brothers infatuated and obsessed with the actions and absence of their sister, Caddy. Consisting of a multitude of colors laid out by Caddy’s actions and her brothers’ reactions, Faulkner’s true patchwork genius lies in the craftsmanship of his seam. Binding together multi-colored material created by similar experiences, Faulkner’s stitching tak es on a radically different, almost haphazard appearance. With each Compson brother producing a different type of stitching due to vastly different interpretations of their s... ...n Vase or Crucible of Race?" New Essays on The Sound and the Fury. Ed. Noel Polk. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1993. 99-137. "Milkweed." Random House Webster’s College Dictionary. 1996 ed. Millgate, Michael. "The Sound and the Fury." Ed. David Minter. The Sound and the Fury. New York: W.W. Norton, 1994. 297-310. Pouillon, Jean. "Time and Destiny in Faulkner." Ed. Robert Penn Warren. Faulkner: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966. 79-93. Ross, Stephen M. "The ‘Loud World’ of Quentin Compson." Ed. Andre Bleikasten. William Faulkner’s The Sound and the Fury: A Critical Casebook. New York: Garland Pulishing, 1982. 101-114. Sartre, Jean-Paul. "On The Sound and the Fury: Time in the Work of Faulkner." Ed. Robert Penn Warren. Faulkner: A Collection of Critical Essays. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1966. 87-93.

Proso Millet as an Alternative Crop Essay -- Agriculture Farming Envir

Proso Millet as an Alternative Crop Proso millet, Panicurn miliaceum (L.), is a warm season grass that is capable of producing seeds within a short growing season of 60 to 100 days (Boland, 2003). Proso millet possesses many unique characteristics that make it a promising alternative cash crop for the Great Plains region of United States. There is much potential for beneficial results if proso millet is further integrated into the cropping scheme of the Great Plains. Reasons for looking further into proso millet include benefits in crop rotation with wheat, and its characteristic ability to be used to produce ethanol, as well as other products. Proso millet commonly grows up to four feet tall, and the seeds are small round seeds about two millimeters in diameter (Proso Millet, 1996). Other common names for proso millet include millet, yellow millet and yellow hog. (Baltensperger) Proso millet traces its origins back to ancient times when it was grown as a cereal grain. Proso millet has been grown in many areas of the world, including Russia, China, Romania, Afghanistan, Turkey, and India (Baltensperger). In many of these countries, proso millet is produced as a human food source (Boland, 2003). Currently, proso millet is produced in the United States primarily for birdseed and livestock feed (Boland, 2003). In the United States, proso millet is also used in some products made for human consumption. The majority of proso millet grown in the United States has white or yellow seeds, however, some red seeded proso millet is also grown (Boland, 2003). Proso millet is mainly utilized as a crop placed in millet/wheat/fallow rotations. One reason for placing proso millet in a crop rotation is that it i... ... and marketing proso millet in the high plains. University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension EC 95-137-C, Retrieved Nov 06, 2005, from http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/fieldcrops/ec137.pdf. Proso millet. (1996). Retrieved Nov. 06, 2005, from Proso Millet Web site: http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/Crops/Proso_millet.html. Acreage. (2005). Retrieved Nov. 06, 2005, from USDA Acreage Report Web site: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/field/pcp-bba/acrg0605.txt. Boland, M. (2003). Proso millet. Retrieved Nov. 06, 2005, from Proso Millet Web site: http://test.agmrc.org/agmrc/commodity/grainsoilseeds/prosomillet. Blumenthal, J. M., & Baltensperger, D. D. (). Fertilizing proso millet. Nebraska Cooperative Extension G89-924-A (Revised December 2002), Retrieved Nov 06, 2005, from http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/fieldcrops/g924.htm

Athletic Training and Writing Studies

Genre Analysis This paper will take an in depth look at two articles that are representative of two different discourse communities. It will also analyze features that are different amongst the two discourse communities so that people have a better understanding of the different characteristics that discourse communities possess. It will explore the different styles that each discourse community utilizes, including but not limited to writing, citation styles and organizational styles. Keywords: Discourse Community, characteristics, organizational style, citation style writing style Many people do not understand that to be considered a discourse community, a group must have certain attributes. These attributes represent the way that the discourse community read, write, or communicate with one another. It is important that these attributes are done on a level that will be understood by those within the discourse community they are a member of. Although each genre typically has their own way of communication, whether it is via writing, email, or another form of communicating, some utilize the same ways and other genres utilize different ways. Regardless of the choice of communication, the goal is the same throughout discourse communities and that is to have effective communication. The differences and similarities are apparent when analyzing two articles from two different discourse communities, Athletic Training and Writing Studies. The first peered reviewed article accessed from the Athletic Training Education Journal titled â€Å"Redefining Professional Knowledge in Athletic Training: Whose Knowledge Is It Anyway?† examines the way that Athletic Training has defined it body of knowledge and how to secure that body of knowledge in the Athletic Training discourse community. The second peered reviewed article titled â€Å"Rhetorical Reading Strategies and the Construction of Meaning† not only discusses reading and writing at a college level, however also discusses the role of rhetorical reading while writing and reading. Identification Identifying the differences and similarities between the two peered reviewed articles, â€Å"Redefining Professional Knowledge in Athletic Training: Whose Knowledge Is It Anyway?† by Patrick O. McKeon, PhD; Jennifer M. Medina McKeon, PhD; Paul R. Geisler, EdD and â€Å"Rhetorical Reading Strategies and the Construction of Meaning† by Christina Haas and Linda Flower gave more clarity on the different and similar writing styles of the two different discourse communities. The first difference that was apparent was the formatting of the two articles. The first article by McKeon et al. appears to use an APA format for their article. APA format typically includes an abstract as well as a reference page that list the sources that were utilized throughout the paper, this paper included both. The APA citations are also different than the MLA citations. The Haas and Flower article is done in an MLA format, it does not include an abstract, title page and the source page is referenced as a â€Å"work cited† page which is typical of MLA formatting. The citations in MLA formatting are presented differently on the â€Å"works cited† page than a reference page of the APA format. What was observed in both articles that was similar, although using the different formats, was that both articles were 1-inch margins and 12-point font which is adhering to both the MLA and APA formats. To attract a reader typically organization of an article is important. These two articles differed in how they were organized, for instance the article â€Å"Redefining Professional Knowledge in Athletic Training: Whose Knowledge Is It Anyway?† is organized by headings that clearly represent the facet of the information that is to follow the heading. Haas and Flowers article â€Å"Rhetorical Reading Strategies and the Construction of Meaning† does not include headings to present information, the information is sporadically placed within the article, including data represented by the study itself. A prominent similarity between the two articles was that they were both evidence-based articles. The article â€Å"Redefining Professional Knowledge in Athletic Training: Whose Knowledge Is It Anyway?† the study shows that by clearly relating the Professional body of knowledge and the evidence that is utilized in the evidence-based practice helps to secure that there is, in fact, authority and legitimacy to the Athletic Training Profession body of Knowledge. (McKeon, el.at.) The article â€Å"Rhetorical Reading Strategies and the Construction of Meaning† was based on studies done with college students. These studies represented primarily the different ways that college students read and write. These studies were performed in hopes that undeniable proof would indeed help to strengthen the abilities of college students in the aspects of reading and writing. There were similarities to the stylistic form of writing of both the articles. The Haas and Flower article was more of an active voice rather that a passive voice. This was noted mainly because of wording and sentence structure. An active voice basically describes what the subject is doing or going to do, which in this article could be clearly defined throughout. The article by McKeon el. at. also used an active voice throughout the article. Suggesting what could be done as well as what is being done to secure their Professional Body of Knowledge in the Athletic Training field. Using an active voice in both articles helped to validate the strength of the articles which is important to the reader. Regarding the convention of the two articles they differed in how information was conveyed through visual illustration. It was clear that the authors Haas and Flower utilized multiple illustrations to identify the results and convey important information a manner that was visually understood. This allowed for information to be conveyed faster and accurately with different visuals, i.e. graphs, figures. In the article â€Å"Redefining Professional Knowledge in Athletic Training: Whose Knowledge Is It Anyway?† the authors chose to not utilize many visuals, instead they utilized the grammar convention, which made deciphering the article slightly more time consuming that when visuals are incorporated. In short, the common goal of both articles was to communicate information to help advance their specific discourse community. In the Writing Studies community the information relayed, no matter how, was to improve the reading and writing skills of college students. In the community of Athletic Trainers, it was to facilitate a better understanding of the Professional Body of Knowledge and the relation to their stature in the healthcare field. The common goal simply stated was to advance each discourse community with the studies that were performed. Analysis Reading both articles, it was clear the active voice was representative of both the Writing Studies and Athletic Training discourse communities. Using the active voice defines a characteristic of both communities and the way they communicate, making sure that information is conveyed, clearly, concisely and straight to the point. This is an important attribute to these discourse communities simply because to advance it is important to understand and communicating efficiently is important. Utilizing the active voice also relays the strength and validation to the article which is important to the reader also. These two articles are clearly written as evidence-based articles, this is another important characteristic of the discourse communities of which the authors belong. It shows that both discourse communities rely on data that has scientifically evident and data that proves the facts. This information is made available in both articles through concise experiments that resulted in a conclusion that was beneficial to both discourse communities. This is an important attribute in the discourse communities because the reputable proof that is determined through these experiments reflects that the discourse communities require information that is only factual and based by scientific evidence. Organizational manner of both articles as stated was different. The article by McKeon, el. at. chose to structure the paper with an introduction, method, result, analysis and discussion format. This type of structure can be a representative characteristic of the discourse community Athletic Training by suggesting the discourse community relies mainly on scientific evidence and factual data. Utilizing headings helps the reader follow and have a clearer understanding of the material that is being discussed. The article by Haas and Flower chose to take a more laxed approach to the structure of their article. The authors used very little headings and left the article with points that could be further discussed. Even know results were apparent this article was left more open-ended, maybe to leave the reader no choice but to ask questions? This type of structure demonstrates the discourse communities will to speak freely and offer any elaboration that is needed. The different formatting of the articles APA and MLA represent the different characteristics that both discourse communities possess. The Athletic Training discourse community utilized an APA format in this article, this is representative of the concise, reliability and validity that is expected when writing in this discourse community. The authors of the Writing Studies article utilized the MLA format for the structure of their paper which is typical of the discourse community. This type of format demonstrates the discourse community's openness to further discuss and elaborate on the subject at hand. The difference in the formatting of the citations on both the reference and works cited pages represent the discourse communities' differences of what they stress importance on when using multiple sources. MLA citations always begin with the title name and APA citations usually begin with author first. The Athletic Training discourse community, using the APA format prefers to emphasize the importance of the author (writer) contrary to the discourse community of Writing Studies who choose to emphasize the importance of the subject in their citation. The conventions that were apparent in the articles displayed the discourse communities' differences in respect to conveying information. The Haas and Flower article had multiple visual illustrations that conveyed precise information in a quick manner. This is standard of the Writing Studies discourse communities will to open minded for elaboration. Presenting a graph or figure can reflect the need for more discussion. The McKeon el. at. article used only one display of visual illustration to convey information which is contrary to the discourse community who is usually under time constraints. The authors chose to use more grammar conventions such as mechanics, usage, and sentence structure to convey their message. This is also typical of the discourse community of Athletic Training and their continued effort to communicate in a fashion that is easily understood, straight to the point, concise and efficient. The last noted similarity in both articles was the fact that the articles were written in a manner that provided information to improve their discourse communities. Knowledge is power, and this was reflective in both articles with the information that was conveyed. This makes sense as both discourse communities have common goals and that is to better the community to which they belong by further research and continued communication. Reflection This Genre Analysis has given me the opportunity to explore and examine the different writing styles of the discourse communities of Writing Studies and Athletic Training. Despite that the discourse communities are from completely different realms, I analyzed both articles which later proved to achieve one common goal and that was communication through writing. After analyzing the two articles it was clear that the discourse communities had different as well as similar writing styles that they utilized to convey their messages. I was able to gain an understanding that the overall goal of conveying information effectively and concisely. Of which, ironically, was a common goal among both discourse communities. This analysis has also given me a better understanding of how writing, or the type of writing used can identify the characteristics of a discourse community. For example, the Athletic Training discourse community writes in a fashion that is straight forward and to the point to communicate the outcome. The Writing Studies discourse community tends to leave some information open ended, up for discussion they are a little laxer in their approach. No matter the approach in writing among the discourse community the bottom line will always be the same, to write in a manner that is concise and effective. Another very important aspect that was observed was the importance of adapting to the writing styles of the discourse community you belong to. Adapting will ensure that you can communicate effectively within the discourse community and most importantly be respected by fellow members. ReferencesHaas, C., ; Flower, L. (1988). Rhetorical Reading Strategies and the Construction of Meaning. College Composition and Communication, 39(2), 167-183. doi:10.2307/358026Patrick O. McKeon, Jennifer M. Medina McKeon, and Paul R. Geisler (2017) Redefining Professional Knowledge in Athletic Training: Whose Knowledge Is It Anyway?. Athletic Training Education Journal: April-June 2017, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 95-105. https://doi.org/10.4085/120295

Ancient Chinese Foods Essay

Now in order to live and be successful, you need to eat. The Ancient Chinese were/are very successful. They are also the longest civilization on Earth. So what was their stable food supply? The Ancient Chinese ate a variety of different foods. They ate rice, millet, fish, sorghum, wheat, pork, vegetables, fruits, and ginger. They ate the plant, fruit, and even the root! The Ancient Chinese used these ingredients to make porridge, tea, soups, etc. Specialization is another key to success. You have to have surpluses of food to specialize or master a trade/art. Now what food surpluses did they use to trade, and what did they trade for? The Ancient Chinese had surplus foods of rice, wheat, sorghum, millet, and barley which they used for trade. These 5 foods are a vital part of Ancient China’s food supply. Since they needed a lot of these, they planted and grew a lot. These led to surpluses. They used these surpluses to trade for toys (for the children), cotton, ivory, wool, gold, silver, etc. These items that they obtained from trade were traded through the Silk Roads. Now in order to grow the food for the living, you have to have tools to help you out. The Ancient Chinese had so many tools that they used so I probably can’t fit them on this paper. I’ll list a few. They used compasses, plows, harnesses, wheelbarrows, water wheels, harnesses, and crossbows. When the Ancient Chinese hunted, they probably used a compass and a crossbow. They probably used a compass to lead them back to a spot and a crossbow to shoot at game. When they were farming, they probably used plows, harnesses, and wheelbarrows. The Ancient Chinese probably used plows to turn the soil on their fields. The harnesses might have been used for horses to drag objects. Finally, the wheelbarrow might have been used to transports farming essentials. The Ancient Chinese used many tools to help them out. You’re probably wondering what they grew and how they grew it. Mostly they grew rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, soybeans, cucumbers, lemons, oranges, peaches, apricots, and ginger. Now, what were their techniques of growing these crops so successfully? They used crop rotation, fertilization with human manure, building levees, and planting in rows. Crop rotation is when you have several fields and each year you leave a few as fallow. This lets the fields â€Å"recharge†. For example, you have three fields. One year, field one and two are used to grow crops, while field three is recharging. The next year, you use fields two and three, while field one is recharging, and so on. This stabilizes the fields. Next, they used human manure fertilization. First of all, why didn’t they use animal manure? The Ancient Chinese didn’t have that much livestock. This increased the room for crops. Third, levees are important. The Huang He and the Yantze flooded annually. The water flooded the irrigation ditches which killed the crops. The levees served as dams. Finally, they planted in rows so that it would be convenient for them to water, organize, and weed them. The Ancient Chinese had many different strategies that they used to help them out.

Health Care Spending Essay

â€Å"Historically, U.S. health care spending has grown at rates exceeding the economy’s growth rate, often by at least 2 percentage points per year† (Holahan & McMorrow, 2012, 393). Recently, it seems that the rate of health care spending has slowed down a little, though no reasons can be pinpointed as to why this is. There are many factors that affect the growth of health care spending, and plenty of solutions have been proposed to help improve this issue. Factors such as advancements in medical technology and an increase in the price of prescription drugs cause health care costs to rise year after year. Solutions have been presented and implemented, like Medicare and Medicaid and managed care plans, however, even these components have added to the health care spending issue. With all the discussion and debate, one thing can be agreed upon, something needs to be done. In recent years both public and private payers have experienced an inclement rise health care spending that has exceeded income growth. This growth started right after the end of World War II and has continue to increase every ten years, health care spending has exceeded the gross domestic products (GDP) which had a projection of 26% by 2035 taken for health care spending, prior the health care reform was passed. This number is only going to continue increasing, which bring in the importance of control the spending since the nation’s long-term fiscal balance will be determined by the future rate growth in health care cost. According to Chernew (2010) the primary determinant of spending growth is the development and diffusion of new medical technology. However this does not imply the establishment of new technology rather focuses on how to use it with technologies and systems already in use, in other words make it compatible to work together. The diversity of technologies contributing to spending growth generates a diversity of pathways by which technology increases spending. These includes high unit cost driven capital cost or the need for specialized labor, high volume, or cost related to complementary services. Because the past rate of health care spending growth is not sustainable, both private and public payers will take action to lower spending. Those actions may not necessary alter the forces that historically have driven up spending, but they will be designed to address the immediate problem of high sending. There are many options from cost sharing from patients, reductions in payments to Medicare Advantage, fee reductions under the new payment rules implemented with Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. On the article there is a suggestion that I find interesting about Global payments, which is an alternate form of bundled payments which is a program use to pay a fixed fee for a set of services related to a specific episode of care. This might be a good solution for the situation we are facing now, because it would give providers the opportunity to profit with reduced revenue, and even share some of the savings form not using health care services. Yet in order for bundled payments system to be successful the need of having the proper tools to improve the efficiency of care. Many providers will be able to develop these tools, but it would require partnership between facilities, physicians, and insurers. For the system to be successful it would have to carefully manage practice pattern changes due to new technology, adjusting aggressiveness based on the generosity of bundled payments updates. If bundled payments encourage efficiencies, they may reduce the level of spending more than spending growth, and that is exactly the area we as country need to be working on. According to President Obama, â€Å"We do not have a spending problem; we have a health care problem†. This statement was alarming to many Americans. The President feels that healthcare spending on the aging population is the number one fiscal problem. Then why is the solution taking so long? With Obamacare, Medicare will see cuts up to $716 billion. Where will this leave the Americans who receive Medicare? How can they still receive health care with this much of a cut? Will Providers be willing to provide the same high level of care with the high cut to their expected fees? There is no way of knowing if this will even solve the health care spending problem or if it will create even larger problems for Americans. Budget cuts will be needed in other areas to make these cuts to health care spending improve the financial state of our country (Galupo, 2013). According to New Republic’s Jonathan Cohn, the new health care reform addresses the cost of health care rather than health care spending. He argues the proposed spending cuts will address the health care spending problem along with other budget cuts. Obamacare may not be a good solution to the current health care spending problem in America. Many suggest that the new law’s affect on provider reimbursement rates will have a huge impact on access to care for many seniors. This can greatly affect the health of our aging population. Spending cuts projected for Medicare and Medicaid will help that aspect of health care spending but with the added subsidies for people to purchase private health insurance, the savings just do not add up. When it comes to health care spending there is much controversy on what increases health care cost, what measures we can take to keep health care cost down, and what actions we can take to make health care affordable without limiting health care. According to kaiserEDU.org the chart provided below shows how costing allocates throughout the nation. â€Å"Hospital care and physician services combined added up for half (51%) of the nation’s health expenditures.† Below is a diagram from the year 2010 of the nation’s health expenditures. National Health Expenditures, 2010 Totaling up = $2.3 Trillion Some major growth health care costs include a rise in chronic disease, administrative cost, or technology or prescription cost, although there may be many more expenditure that adds up to the growth in health care cost these three have been discussed to have the biggest effect on the nation. As technology continues to advance over the years to come, we may face more health care struggles, so being prepared for the unexpected leads to a healthy future. Health care spending continues to be a concern for most Americans. â€Å"The nation’s efforts to control health care costs have not had much long-term effect, prompting a debate over what proposals are actually able to reduce for the long-term. Approaches are largely divided by debate over a stronger role for government regulation or market-based models that encourage greater competition† (kaiseredu.org). Plans such as Obamacare are being implemented, but these plans are not solving the problem. Political debates and public discussions will continue as people try to figure out what factors are responsible for this problem and what solutions are truly aimed at achieving optimal health care at affordable costs. References Chernew, M. (2010). Health Care Spending Growth: Can We Avoid Fiscal Armageddon?. Inquiry,47(4), 285-295. Galupo, Scott, 2013, Let’s Split the Difference: We Have a Healthcare Spending Problem, The American Conservative, Retrieved February 14, 2013: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/lets-split-the-difference-we-have-a-healthcare-spending-problem/ Holahan, J. & McMorrow, S. (2012). Medicare and Medicaid spending trends and the deficit debate. The New England Journal of Medicine, 367(5), 393- 395. Senger, Alyenne, 3013, No, Obamacare Does Not Lower Health Care Spending , The Founder, Retrieved February 16, 2013: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/02/12/no-obamacare-does-not-lower-health-carespending/ The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (n.d.). U.S. Health Care Costs. Retrieved from http://www.kaiseredu.org.

Dental Amalgam and the Risks Essay

What is amalgam? Amalgam is a combination of metals that has been used in dentistry for more than 100 years. It is still commonly used today. Although it sometimes is called â€Å"silver amalgam,† amalgam actually consists of a combination of metals. These include silver, mercury, tin and copper. Small amounts of zinc, indium or palladium also may be used. How safe is amalgam? Many studies on the safety of amalgam fillings have been done. In 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluated this research. It found no reason to limit the use of amalgam. The FDA concluded that amalgam fillings are safe for adults and children ages 6 and above. Why is mercury used in amalgam? Mercury is used in amalgam because it helps make the filling material pliable. When it is mixed with an alloy powder, it creates a compound that is soft enough to mix and press into the tooth. But it also hardens quickly and can withstand the forces of biting and chewing. Why the concern about mercury in amalgam? Everyone is exposed to mercury through air, drinking water, soil and food. Concerns have been raised, for instance, about the amount of mercury building up in fish as a result of pollution. Mercury enters the air from industries that burn mercury-containing fuels. Mercury from all sources can build up in body organs. As with most substances, the degree of harm caused by mercury in the body is related to the amount. Very low levels don’t cause any ill effects. At higher levels — for instance, when workers are exposed to mercury through their jobs — mercury can cause several symptoms. These include anxiety, irritability, memory loss, headaches and fatigue. Studies have shown that the amount of mercury you are exposed to from your fillings is less than the amount that most people are exposed to in their daily environment or in the food they eat. Do some people have reactions to amalgam? In rare cases, people have allergic reactions to the mercury in amalgam. The American Dental Association says that fewer than 100 cases of this type of allergy have ever been reported. People allergic to amalgam can receive other filling materials. Should pregnant women be concerned about amalgam feelings? Research has not shown any health effects from amalgam fillings in pregnant women. However, mercury can cross the placenta. In general, dentists advise pregnant women to avoid unnecessary dental care. Women should not get amalgam fillings during pregnancy. Dentists can suggest other materials for any pregnant woman who needs a cavity filled. If amalgam is safe, why does my dentist take precautions when handling it? Because dentists work with mercury almost every day, they must take safety precautions. Without protection, dentists can inhale mercury vapors. Over time, this exposure can produce symptoms of mercury toxicity. How is dental amalgam made? To make dental amalgam, dentists mix liquid mercury with a powder containing silver, tin and other metals. Dentists buy special capsules that contain the powder and the liquid mercury, separated by a membrane. They use special machinery to puncture the membrane and mix the amalgam while it is still in the capsule. Once mixing is complete, the capsule is opened. By the time the amalgam is placed in your tooth, the mercury has formed a compound with the other metals. It is no longer toxic.

Labor Management Relations

Katszuba’s write-up, which appears in the Star Tribune, is similar to Lulli and Henson’s (2006) article in two aspects. First, both articles tackle issues associated with labor union organizing. Katszuba’s article describes a problem associated with efforts to organize a labor union in an office that appears to be exempt from labor union organizing according to State Laws. In the same manner, Lulli and Henson are interested in the dynamics of labor union organizing in a growingly difficult environment where businesses are more interested in reducing labor costs and retaining their competitive advantage. Another similarity is that both articles present the political factors that affect labor union organizing wherein both explore the political motives behind union formation. Both Katszuba’s and Lulli and Henson’s article presents the agenda behind union organizing for the employees and other interest groups and personalities. On the other hand, there are differences between Katszuba’s report and Lulli and Henson’s (2006) article in terms of data and facts presented, specific issues raised, and the perspective from which the general issue of labor union organizing is discussed. Lulli and Henson’s article clearly present the general business and economic environment where labor unions are situated, the factors that promote labor union organizing activities, and the political, social, technological, and internal business practice agenda forwarded by the labor movement. They attempt to provide a wide understanding of the innovations in strategies and tactics employed by labor unions in general. Meanwhile, Katszuba describes a more particular scenario involving the organizing efforts of a labor union at the State Attorney General’s office. His article focuses more on the conflicting interests between the labor union, the State Attorney General as employer, and the employees of the Attorney General’s office. Likewise, Lulli and Henson raises the issue of the political, economic, and social impact of more advanced strategies and tactics used by labor unions to further their sectoral interests. The article discusses in detail the various ways in which labor unions are able to influence legislation, pressure politicians and investors into keeping businesses that are deemed anti-labor from opening new markets in some states, expand membership through a planned recruitment strategy targetting the younger generation of workers, take advantage of technology to advance their organizing efforts and reach a wider audience, and turning mergers and other business activities into opportunities to consolidate and strengthen their ranks. Lulli and Henson note how the results of credible surveys such and polls point to an uptrend for labor union power, support, and influence among the population and how an environment that is supportive of labor unions is encouraged by political and economic developments. They therefore give credit to the labor unions for being able to stand up for their interests and being able to come up with better strategies in organizing. At the same time, the authors observe that human resource professionals must be able to take note and study these developments in the labor movement critically in order to formulate appropriate approaches and tactics in dealing with increased union activity. Katszuba, on the other hand, highlights the tensions and problems created by the labor union organizing attempts in the State Attorney General’s office between employer and employees and within the labor union movement itself due to the â€Å"illegality† of labor organizing in the AG’s office. Likewise, the article not only raises the question of the validity of establishing a labor union in the State Attorney General’s office but also the question of motive in such efforts. To this effect, the article presents the controversy that a former candidate for the State General’s Office is behind the labor organizing efforts and is fanning the embers of employee dissatisfaction in order to destabilize the Office and embarrass the incumbent Attorney General. The question of motive is a crucial point in this article since it influences the reader’s perception of the trouble arising from labor union activities and seems to discredit the efforts of the labor union to gain employee representation by ascribing their motives to an external force other than the employees. The main difference between the two articles lies in the perspective from which union activities and tactics are discussed. Lulli and Henson’s article approaches the subject of evolving labor union strategies academically and in a neutral manner. They present the data in a way that attempts to provide Human Resource personnel with useful information on handling labor union organizing efforts and activities. In contrast, Katszuba’s article presents the story of the â€Å"organizing flap† in the Attorney General’s office in a more sensationalized manner. Although there is an attempt to establish objectivity by presenting both sides of the contending parties, the article is unfortunately lacking in more detailed explanation of the legislative factor that renders the organizing activities illegal. Thus, Mike Katszuba’s report on the â€Å"organizing flap in the AG’s office† and Lulli and Henson’s (2006) article on â€Å"union organizing trends and tactics† are similar in that they examine the phenomenon and issues of labor union organizing. However, a deeper scrutiny of the two articles reveals that while there may be similarities between these reports, there are also salient differences in terms of the facts they present, the issues they raise, and the perspective and objectives that the respective authors wish to impart to their readers.   

Mid term Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mid term - Assignment Example The concept helps the countries reduce the time and money spent trading among the countries. Starbucks faced three major risks in the competitive market. The first was the saturated market condition in the USA. The company started with 17 coffee locations in Seattle and over 5000 outlets in more than 20 countries. Seattle has a population of over 9000 people, which the company considers as the upper limit of market saturation. The second risk is the loss of customers due to few product options. The risk of global expansion poses risks for Starbucks due to increased competition (Graham, Cateora and Gilly 300). Starbucks can reduce the employee destruction to improve the quality of service. Product repositioning will help Starbucks win back their lost customers. Since coffee is the primary product, Starbucks should focus on improving the quality of the product. Starbucks overall corporate strategy is facing challenges due to a mismatch between consumer expectation and company strategies. They believe that having more outlets increases the sales volume. Starbuck concentrates on increasing the number of outlets without analyzing consumer satisfaction levels. The company does not apply the use of price differentiation strategy making it difficult to attract the younger generation. Product and service reposition will aid Starbucks improve their profits in Japan. The Japanese people are less conscious with the price, and look for quality. Even though they hesitate to spend, they do so only for high quality products. The Japanese are cultural oriented hence the marketing strategies of Starbucks should relate to the cultural aspects to gain more audience (Graham, Cateora and Gilly

Career Wheel Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Career Wheel - Assignment Example Almost every organization or government agency has more than one financial managers responsible for overseeing the preparation of financial reports. There are more than 80 positions involving banking, insurance and finance. These positions are divided into six categories: accounting, banking and corporate finance, investment banking and securities, money management and supervisory agencies. Let us take the position of account executive for example. The duties involved in this position are: building broker network through networking, cold calling, soliciting residential mortgage loans originated by mortgage brokers and other financial institutions and prospecting. An alternate title which can be given to this person is Wholesale account manager, mortgage broker channel manager etc. The salary range is $50,000 to $100,000. The employment prospects are good as well as the advancement prospects (Fitch). For one to take up such a responsibility, a four-year college degree is required and three years of mortgage banking experience. The special skills required are: a detailed knowledge of mortgage origination process and a working knowledge of the pc programs. One is needed to work independently and he should have excellent communication skills. It is wonderful to shoulder the responsibilities of managing the national sales efforts of a mortgage broker network. The account executive acts as the primary liaison with mortgage brokers. The marketing industry is one that is diverse in many ways. Many people have taken up the marketing career. People like it so much because it is one of the careers that provides a good pay and it does not consume as much time as other careers such as medicine and engineering. However, this has made the industry to be a competitive one. It is hard to get a job in this sector. One has to be very determined. If one is not a

Does God Exist Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Does God Exist - Term Paper Example Arguments Scientists have an assertion that the universe was developed through a massive explosion of energy accompanied with light, and this process was termed as the Big Bang (Adamson, 2013). In fact, they contend this incidence led to the beginning of everything that exists. This refers to the beginning of the universe, space and the beginning of time. Nevertheless, this theory does not explain the beginning of the living creatures in the Universe, given that this cannot be associated with the motion, which was caused by this cosmic explosion. Therefore, the universe did not just flash into being, and there is no chance of explaining all this things through the cosmic explosion. In this case, the best explanation that can give a credible explanation is the creation theory, which is described in the Bible. In fact, this offered a relevant explanation regarding existence of God, whereby he is regarded as the creator of all living things. Another proof that God exist relate to the ar gument derived from design, which is referred to as â€Å"the teleological argument† (Adamson, 2013). In fact, this argument is based on the ideas of design that seeks to justify existence of God on the order of the universe. Moreover, if there were no God, the universe would not have been different in the way it is now. Instead, it could have had various laws of physics that would lead to different arrangement of planets and stars. Therefore, the creation of the universe could have been more powerful or weaker compared to the narration of the Big Bang. In addition, existence of God offers a vast majority of the possible universes, which offer existence of life, thereby making people fortunate in their lives. In this case, the perception towards the world has no way of giving an explanation to the good fortunes; thus, the atheists are expected to put the notion down to chance. Another proof indicates that there is a moral argument that can be derived in justification of exist ence of God. In fact, this moral argument focuses on proving the existence of God based on the moral laws, which are in form of commands. In fact, these moral commands are able to direct people to do the things they are expected to accomplish. Nevertheless, there are no commands without a commander, who is charged with the responsibility of commanding people to live morally. Therefore, this can be based on the idea of authoritative nature of morality, whereby commands are authoritative. In this case, authority goes beyond human authority, thereby giving rise for a need of a commander, who has authority that transcends human authority.