A relaxing day on the beach

Why would you choose any beach other than Galveston? The Galveston Island beach is peaceful and serene. The list of natural luxuries this haven provides is endless; and as I sit here relaxed, I soak them all in. In peace at the edge of the water, the myriad cares of the world behind me, the warming rays of the sun bathe me in their wonder and glory.The world around me drowns out by the sounds of the wind whispering its song along the coast, and the distant thunder of the surf rolling forward in its never ending struggle to reach the shore.I lose myself in the mist of these beautiful surroundings, and when I close my eyes I am hesitant to open them for fear I might find myself awoke from the most amazing dream. When I do open my eyes, and cast their gaze outward upon the beautiful blue expanse before me, I contemplate the contrasts of the world in which I am submerged.The warm touch of sun upon my face and shoulders, the cooling sensations of the water washing over my feet with each s urge in the tide, and the sounds of amiable laughter from the seagulls that dance endlessly into the breeze mixed with the surf roaring in its own baritone voice.Both wishing their voice to be heard over the other and yet, in the end, combining into an opera of nature, singing me further into reverie in my chair at the edge of the water.Even the sound of Galveston Island Beach patrollers driving along on their ATVs was just faint enough to blend in with the background sound of the surroundings and still manage to make feel safe and secure. I watch as the surf crashes on the rocks near the shore and the seagulls fly in swirling poetic patterns.This is paradise in its barest form. Who could ask for more? â€Å"The Beach Blues† Could I have chosen a worst vacation spot?Surrounding me in, what to the casual observer can only be described as, a competition for the right to be heard by all are the sounds of the tourists with their stereos blasting a nuance of different styles of mu sic, there incessant questioning of their spouses or friends as to the hue of their skin, and their children screeching incessantly about ownership of some insignificant trinket.The beach is smothered with cigarette butts and empty cans in the sand, deserted remnants of plastic toys, probably left behind long enough for the children who broke them to grow to adulthood and bring children of their own to cut their little feet on the same jagged fragments that dig in my heels. The neglected and unforgiving terrain of the beach is at least bearable and it pales in comparison to devastating scents emitting from its tenants.I realize cutting off my nose might be a good idea when down the coast emerges a breeze that, while eagerly anticipated as a source of relief and refreshment from the glaring sun of the day, is now reviled for the scent of what can only be described as rotting seaweed being carried along in its embrace. The smell is so retched, I can taste it.The sand baked by the sun, and battered by the multitudes of sun worshippers and their children, has become as hot ash from a fire scattered about waiting to greet the soles of the feet of the next brave soul willing to try and reach the edge of the water.If the heat from the sand’s surface were not enough, the rays from the sun presses against my skin like an endless supply of needles prickling at my flesh, and I dare not close my eyes for fear the lids might burn clear off; dually, I’m blinded by this ball of hellfire in the sky. Kill me now.

Business Communication Report Hnc

Wordcount (Excluding appendices): 1516 {draw:frame} Jan Cervenka HC-BUS-F Group B 2009 – 2010 Table of Contents Introduction This report was commissioned by Doctors Campbell and Stewart and compiled by Jan Cervenka of Total Administrative and Organisational Solutions (TAOS). It was compiled in order to examine the organisational issues and problems of Cairnwell Health Centre. The organisation risks losing additional funding for the next five years if the problems are not solved. The main issues are low staff morale; high levels of stress-related absenteeism and a lack of appropriate IT. This report aims to examine these issues in detail and make recommendations for change. The organisation is Cairnwell Health Centre, which is located in the middle of the Hamewith housing estate in Fraserhead. It is headed up in partnership by doctors Campbell and Stewart. They employ a number of staff: a Practice Manager, two receptionists, two typists, an archivist and nursing staff. The capacity of the Centre is about 1000 patients. The report was to be submitted by 5 October 2009. Methods of Investigation Questionnaires were distributed to patients on 5th September Results were collected on 10th September. Staff questionnaires were distributed on 5th September 2009. Results were collected on 10th September 2009. Observation of the surgery was held on 11th September. Costing for new IT system was researched with Hewlett & Packard on 15th September 2009. Doctors Stewart and Campbell were interviewed on 20th September Findings Patient Questionnaires (Appendix 1) Of the one thousand copies of Patient Questionnaires, which were distributed among patients, there were eight hundred and seventy six replies. The outcome was debatable, as you can see in PATIENT QUESTIONNAIRE OUTCOME (Appendix 2). Staff questionnaire (Appendix 3) Ten copies of the Staff Questionnaire out of fifteen copies were handed back to staff. The outcome of the Staff Questionnaire was more definite (Appendix 4). All members of staff felt uncomfortable within their occupation. All of them thought that the approach of the Practice Manager and leading doctors was not satisfactory. Members of nursing staff stated that they felt they are forced to work overtime very often. The typists and receptionists also pointed out that IT equipment is out of date. Their complaints were mainly addressed to the stability of hardware and to theage of software applications. Sometimes, they were unexpectedly unable to type in or find out personal data of patients, this causes long delays. Staff also think that that IT equipment does not let them work as well as they can. The majority of staff members would also welcome more training, because they sometimes can not deal with problems they face every day. They do not know, for example, how to deal with rude or elderly patients properly. Observation The main issues, which were extracted from both Patient and Staff Questionnaires, were affirmed by the observation of the surgery. The observation was held in the reception area, waiting area and staff area. It was noticed, that queues at the reception were undesirably long. Approximate waiting time was between 15-20 minutes. The receptionists were unpleasant and frustrated. It was found that this was caused by the computer, which stopped working suddenly. One of the receptionists tried to calm down waiting customers, but not successfully. The Practice Manager started shouting at the receptionist instead of helping her. They often did not answer telephone calls. Research into IT solutions It was found that the IT systems of the surgery were out of date and thus, very slow and unstable. Sometimes, it was impossible to type in personal information of the patients, because memory storage of the computers was full. In some cases, it was also impossible to find out personal data of patients due to system failures. Problems with IT equipment lead to increasing stress levels of staff. During an appointment with an advisor of Hewlett & Packard, costing of IT equipment refurbishment was discussed. Interview with Doctors (Appendix 5) Both Doctors are ready to undertake appropriate changes in order to improve patient services rapidly. Conclusion It was found that the problems that the Surgery faces are serious and need to be solved as soon as possible. All members of staff do not feel comfortable within their occupation. They are not satisfied with the managerial staff of the Surgery. They are also not satisfied with the IT equipment. This leads to one of the biggest issues of the Centre – IT equipment. Both hardware are software are outdated. Problems with the IT is a major influence on stress-related absenteeisem. It was found that the doctors realise that the service provided to patients is not the best. They are ready to undertake appropriate changes to improve levels of provided service. Doctors Stewart and Campbell should consider the following recommendations in order to improve the efficiency of the Surgery. Recommendations To improve levels of the service provided to patients TAOS recommends following solutions. Staff meetings Meetings between the managerial staff, the leading doctors and the lower staff should be carried out regularly and communication between all members of staff should be improved. Occasionally, staff reports should be compiled. Relationships between members of staff Teambuilding Appropriate building courses should help to improve responsibility and behaviour at work of every member of staff. Refreshment facilities improvement IT systems improvement Training of Staff All members of staff should be trained in order to learn how to deal with patients and possible problems properly. Fosters Seminars and Communications Company (http://www. fosterseminars. com) can provide training courses for healthcare staff. For further information see Appendix 9. Appendices Appendix 1 PATIENT QUESTIONNAIRE Dear patients, _We would like to take this opportunity to ask you to fill in this short survey. Our company, Total Administrative and Organisational Solutions, is compiling a report about the surgery that you attend. Then, we can make reccomendations to improve the service provided to you. _ _Thank you for your help. _ _(Instructions: Choose an answer that you feel is right by ticking it)_ The attitude of nursing staff is: Poor Satisfactory Good Excellent The waiting times at reception are: Satisfactory Unacceptable The attitude of receptionist towards patients is: Poor Satisfactory Good Excellent The cleanliness of premises of the Centre is: Unacceptable Satisfactory Good Excellent Is there anything else that you think we should know about? Appendx 2 PATIENT QUESTIONNAIRE OUTCOME _Of the one thousand copies, eight hundred and seventy six replies were received. _ The attitude of nursing staff is: {draw:frame} The waiting times at reception are: {draw:frame} The attitude of receptionist towards patients is: {draw:frame} The cleanliness of premises of the Centre is: {draw:frame} In the comment section, patients wrote further feelings about surgery, which were not covered in prior questions. The majority of the patients are not satisfied with the approach of the receptionist. Many of patients also pointed out, that the equipment of the surgery is very good. They are satisfied with magazines, which are up to date. Appendix 3 STAFF QUESTIONNAIRE _Thank you for your help. _ _(Instructions: Choose an answer that you feel is right by ticking it)_ How do you feel about your job? Very satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Very dissatisfied How do you feel about the managerial staff? Very satisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied Very dissatisfied How do feel about your working hours? Satisfied Dissatisfied Very dissatisfied. Would you welcome more training? Yes, I would No, I would not Appendix 4 STAFF QUESTIONNAIRE OUTCOME _Out of 15 copies of the questionnaire, 10 replies were received. _ How do you feel within your occupation? {draw:frame} How do you feel about the managerial staff? {draw:frame} How do feel about your working hours? {draw:frame} Would you welcome more training? {draw:frame} In the comment section, staff members wrote down further feelings about their occupation. All of them pointed out the very poor IT equipment. This is discussed in the Findings section. INTERVIEW WITH DOCTORS STEWART AND CAMPBELL Summary of the interview Examples of questions *How do you feel about the service* which is provided to patients? Dr. Stewart I realis_e, that the service is not the best and I know, that we must improve it as soon as possible. Otherwise, we can lose funding for upcoming years. It would by mandatory for us. _ Dr. Campbell _I agree wit Dr. Stewart. I would like to tell you that we are trying to improve it, but we have not been successful so far. That is the reason why we hired TAOS – to help us. _ What do you think about high levels of stress-related absenteeism? Dr. Stewart I think, that the problem is caused by everyone. Not only by us and management. Still, I think, that the staff should work harder. Dr. Campbell _I realise, that the Practice Manager is often too demanding. Sometimes, he shouts at the staff without any reason. I think, that he should attend a training course. _ Appendix 6 Overview of the company Team building events for corporate clients†¦ We also provide central London Team Building activities, for example our London Treasure hunt which can be undertaken on foot and public transport, and our River Thames Rib Experience is a real show stopper. Appendix 7 To get more information about the RefresU Company, it is needed to make an appointment with a manager of this company. It is needed to fill in a contact form on their website. Contact adress: RefreshU Unit 18A Lenham Storage Ham Lane, Lenham, Maidstone, Kent ME17 2LH Phone number: 1234567891 Appendix 8 _ {draw:frame} _ Health solutions  » AMBER on HP systems  » Contracts management  » Electronic Health Records Hospital information systems  » Medical archiving solution  » Medical image management and PACS  » Printing & Imaging Appendix 9 _~WE CARE~ A Guide to Patient Sensitivity _SM Dealing with the Challenging Patient_ SM_ _Documentation in the Clinic SM_ Work is Not Just a Daycare Program for Adults_ SM_ Dealing with Employee Management and Workplace Issue s_ SM_ Mediating Disputes in the Workplace_ SM_ Reducing Conflict & Improving Communication_ SM_ Violence in the Workplace_ SM_ _Legal Issues and the Nurse Manager SM_ Avoiding the Malpractice Blues_ SM_ Get Fired Up, Not Burned Out_ SM_ {draw:frame}

Chemistry Module 6 Separation of a Mixture of Solid Essay Example for Free (#6)

Chemistry Module 6 Separation of a Mixture of Solid Essay This lab experiment was conduct and taught based upon the primary instruction and introduction to mixtures. With this lab I was able to determine and execute the proper separation of a mixture of solids through various means, such as evaporation and filtration. Using these techniques presented the separation of different ingredients from a mixture was conducted based upon the usage of individual physical properties of each substance presented in the mixture. . Observations: Throughout this experiment I noted several things. For example as I was heating the sand I completely forgot to cover the top to prevent splatter. Although I did heat the mixture at a much slower speed, this resulted in a loss of sample, further impacting my overall results and contributing to my percent error totals, as the sand was bubbling and slightly splattered. Also, I noted my stirring rod, along with the other tools used, had a bit of solution attached to them. Although minuet in amount I should have weighed and taken note upon the mass of my materials before and after the procedures. Questions: A. How did your proposed Procedures or flow charts at the beginning of this experiment compare to the actual Procedures of this lab exercise? B. Discuss potential advantages or disadvantages of your proposed Procedure compared to the one actually used. C. How would you explain a sand recovery percentage that is higher than the original sand percentage? D. What were potential sources of error in this experiment? A.) The methods I proposed were highly similar to the instructions used in the labpaq manual. Just as stated in the instructions, I would have used the magnet to separate iron fillings, but I would have thought lastly upon evaporation for the sand separation and used the filter. B.) A potential disadvantage of simply filtering out the sand, is that fact that the benzoic acid substance, that was not completely dissolved could have too be filtered out. Also in the filtering of iron with the magnet I would have never thought to use a bag. C.) I could explain a sand recovery percentage that was higher than that of the original sand percentage, as simply a contamination of the other substances left within the sand, such as if the sand were not completely dry as there would still be water that would be included in the measured value, or possibly the benzoic acid? D.) The potential sources of error found in this experiment could include the was heating the sand I completely forgot to cover the top to prevent splatter, removing the mixture out of the ice before adequate crystallization had occurred,. Possibly having the sand, NaCl, or benzoic acid sticking to the iron, also maybe incomplete drying. How did your flow diagram for completing the separation compare to what was really done in the experiment? Were there any advantages or disadvantages to performing the separation the way you first thought it out? Discuss these advantages and disadvantages in the context how the approach might affect the measurement of some of the materials you separated. My flow diagram thought out prior to the conducting of this experiment was carried out well. The methods I proposed were highly similar to the instructions used in the labpaq manual. Just as stated in the instructions, I would have used the magnet to separate iron fillings, but I would have thought lastly upon evaporation for the sand separation and used the filter. I thought it was rather obvious to use the magnet for the iron filings, but really did not have an educated guess for how to separate the rest. A potential disadvantage of simply filtering out the sand, is that fact that the benzoic acid substance, that was not completely dissolved could have too be filtered out. Also in the filtering of iron with the magnet I would have never thought to use a bag. All together these simple differences, although minuet could have greatly altered my results and manipulated the entire data table. Chemistry Module 6 Separation of a Mixture of Solid. (2016, May 03). We have essays on the following topics that may be of interest to you

Enhancing Employability Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Enhancing Employability - Essay Example For our study, we will look at how DELOITTE Company does perform its recruitment process. Deloitte Company is a headhunting firm. The recruitment and selection is a major function of the human resource department. The recruitment process is normally the first step towards creating the competitive advantage and strategic advantage. It involves a systematic procedure from sourcing the candidates to arranging and conducting the interview. This requires time and resources. In this process, Deloitte company deals with the targeted effort, performance level, and experience level, and also whether the individuals are seriously looking for a job. At this stage, firms prioritize their job so that they can focus on resources on jobs with the highest business impact. Understanding decision criteria of your target — the most important part of this process is attracting the best talent, this cannot be achieved without knowing your targets. In this step, we focus on key factors, known referred to as â€Å"job acceptance criteria,† that are important so that we can convince a qualified manpower to apply for and accept a job in your firm. Knowing where your target is, After defining your target and their decision criteria, this step aims at helping you to get to where you are most likely to find the targeted talent, including best communication channels for effective recruitment messages. If the company does not identify where these targets are, you will experience a low probability of placing compelling information about the company and vacancies in a wrong place.

Bipolar Disorders-Psychology Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Bipolar Disorders-Psychology - Lab Report Example The researchers created two psychosocial treatment trials. The first study was to determine "the effectiveness of a multi-family psychoeducation group therapy program" (481). The first group was comprised of 135 families, with children 8-11 years of age, who were bipolar or had depressive spectrum disorder. In this group, 45% came from two biological parent families, 55% came from blended, single parent, adopted parent and lesbian parent families. Socioeconomic background for families ranged between $20,000 and $100,000. The majority of children were Caucasian (90%), with 10% African American. This group participated in group therapy and 25% were from rural areas. The second group was the same in terms of demographics, but it consisted of only 20 families with children 8-11 years old, and they were seen individually. In this group 40% came from rural and/or geographically remote areas. Families in both groups were encouraged to continue their regular treatment options throughout the course of the study. Detailed information about all the services families received was collected four times over the 18 months of the study (481). All information was gathered through interviews with the families. This study set out to show what parents experienced as they took their children through the mental health system. What they found was that parents had similar experiences. Most felt guilty about having a child with this disorder. They felt that their children were often misdiagnosed, they were given a treatment plan to use, and when it didnt work, the clinicians blamed them (the parents) for not parenting correctly or not following a behavior plan properly. "Without understanding the childs full diagnostic profile, treatment plans are often not helpful and sometimes harmful." (482). To help clinicians, they presented the "dos" and "donts" list in hopes that clinicians will be more aware of how to work better with families. Although this study will probably be

Marketing Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Marketing Communication - Essay Example The four departments are aerospace, electronic systems, technical systems and information systems. The aerospace department creates revenue of approximately $ 10 billion annually and it has a workforce of about 23000 employees who are highly skilled individuals in their areas of expertise (Northrop, 2012). The department is a major supplier of American manned and unmanned defense aircrafts, space systems and technological knowhow in the security sector involving aviation.Examples of air defense mechanism created by the company involve the global hawk aircrafts and the F-35 lighting 11 jets. The electronic systems department is responsible for the provision of advanced electronic system for commercial and civil use, and military defense. The company has the ability to supply highly innovative and complex electronic defense machineries in marine systems, airspace management, navigation, and precision and communication systems. The company also provides electronic logistical support to government institutions and commercial organizations. ... department provides services in the modernization of existing military, communication and civil infrastructure to various government agencies, civil organizations and federal agencies. The company has competitors who are equally innovative and financially superior. Its major competitors are General Dynamics Cooperation, Lockheed Martin Cooperation and the Boeing Company. Compared to its three major competitors, Northrop Grumman is performing poorly, both in terms of its share value and revenue generating capabilities (Nasdaq, 2012). For example, the net income of Boeing Company as of June 2012 amounted to $ 4.35 billion, as compared to Northrop which stood at $ 2.10 billion, a difference of $ 2.25 billion. General Dynamics made $ 2.5 billion while Lockheed Martin made $ 2.78 billion. These figures are higher than the profitability of Northrop Grumman.In terms of their share prices, Northrop Grumman performs dismally (Nasdaq, 2012). The current value of Northrop Grumman share price st ands at $ 59.3; this is far below the share price of Boeing which currently trades at $ 72.58, a difference of $13.28. The share prices of its two other competitors are higher with Lockheed Martin share price trading at $ 83.37 and that of general dynamics trading at $ 64.13 (Nasdaq, 2012). The share values are an indicator of how well the company is perceived by the society and of its economic performance. The low share price of Northrop as compared to its competitors is an indication that the company economic performance is far below that of its competitors. There are various opportunities presentable to the company for expansion of its services and profitability. The present war on terror presents the company with an opportunity to develop high technology weapons that can be used to

What were the major external threats to the Ottoman Empire, 1878-1900, Essay

What were the major external threats to the Ottoman Empire, 1878-1900, and how were they contained - Essay Example This discussion therefore seeks to dissect these external challenges and how the empire responded to them. Reid explains that in the period between 1878 and 1900, the Ottoman Empire was still grappling with the negative aftereffects of its previous involvement with war against her external enemies, Poland, Persia, Russia and Austria in the period between 1768 and 1774. Moreover, the terms of the treaty that ended this war did not auger well with the Ottoman Empire’s interests. Particularly, the Kuchuk-Kaynarja Treaty which was intended to end the Russo-Ottoman war of 1768-1774: granted independence to the Trans-Danubian provinces; forced the Ottoman Empire to abandon the Tartar Khanate which was in the Crimea; compelled the empire to pay large war remunerations; and gave Russian ships permission to access the Ottoman water bodies. The 1870s therefore found the empire grappling with these setbacks and carried them onwards1. Additionally, the empire was still reeling from the effects of the Greek War of Independence which had taken place between 1821 and 1832. At the Battle of Navarino, the Anglo-French destroyed the Egyptian and Ottoman fleets, as the Russian troops captured swathes of the empire’s territories upto to Erdine. It is against the backdrop of the development that the Ottoman power attracted greater extents of vulnerability. This vulnerability was in turn underscored by the glaring attractiveness of the empire’s vast holdings to other players in international relations and thereby complicating the status and fate of the Eastern Question. As these problems persisted, Tsar Nicholas I of Prussia referred to the empire as the Sick man of Europe. From this point, the Concert of Europe was mainly concerned about how the Ottoman Empire could be disposed off in a manner that would not gain any power, at the expense of other powers, so as not to disturb the balance of political power i n European politics

Should be universal health care covarage Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Should be universal health care covarage - Essay Example This universal health care is determined in three critical ways including: what services are covered, who is covered and how much cost is covered. The question arises, â€Å"should be universal health care coverage?† has a long heated debate. It is no more a secret that health care costs are far greater than any other costs and are also spiraling out of control I various countries. Countries are now spending more per person on health care as compared to housing and food. Insurance premiums are also increasing on a much faster pace than inflation. This in turn prevents economic growth and less money is left with businesses to hire more or raise the amount of workers. The following debate would now discuss whether a complete takeover by government of health care should be undertaken or not. A national database that is centralized should be developed which makes treatment and diagnosis easier and efficient for doctors. Doctors usually maintain their own record of patients in thei r offices. This is also one of the reasons why we have to fill out a lengthy form which has health records, whenever we visit a new doctor. This has several problems. For instance, it is wasteful in terms of both money and time. Secondly, patients may forget, lie or may not be able to describe problems precisely of the past. Whereas doctors require precise information to undertake a proper diagnosis of the patient. Therefore, a national system that is centralized would help us to do analysis of the data that once seemed impossible. This will further lead to increased diagnosis efficiency and medical advances. The main argument that arises because of the database that is centralized, is that some insurance providers may not provide coverage if they find some previous medical issues. By providing universal health care coverage, healing the patient would be more concentrated by medical professionals rather than on malpractice liability and insurance procedures etc. Doctors also need to practice medicine that is defensive in order to avoid getting sued. There are physicians that are also found to be leaving this profession as they have to handle all types of non-medical issues. A health system that is universal would also allow various nurses, doctors and other medical professionals to focus specifically on patients and matters relating to them that are most important. Our health care also has one of the biggest drawbacks, i.e. patients with a current or past medical condition like asthma or cancer are not able to gain health coverage in an affordable range. On the contrary, in case of universal health care, people are already healthy and those who take personal care will also be liable to pay for those who are obese and do smoking. It is because universal health care means that costs will be divided on all citizens regardless of their need for medical care and health. Those who have a proper diet plan, do not drink, do not smoke and do regular exercise have fewer health problems. Therefore universal health care should not be given as healthy people then question as to why they should be punished when they are already living their life in a healthy way. Health care systems that are universal vary from one government to the other and their involvement in providing health and care insurance. Universal health ca

Early childhood trauma and the impact it has on adult relationships Essay

Early childhood trauma and the impact it has on adult relationships (emotional and psychosocial) - Essay Example The stress of childhood trauma was found to have an impact on emotional, behavioral, cognitive, social and psychological effects in both Childs early stages of life and also in their adult life. In adult life their found to cause potential and chronic, mental and psychotic problems, thus causing the individual their family, community and ultimately the joy and peace of life. (1) (Bruce D. Perry, 2002) Brain is a organ, that is designed to sense process, store, perceive and act according to information obtained from the world. To achieve this the brain has a hundreds of neurons and related systems that works as a process of modulating, regulating, compensating the control over the body. In the case of stress the homeo stasis is disturbed. It should be understood that stress means traumatic form of severe stress that the child would be unable to handle. Children when faced by moderate to predictable level of stress with the presence of caregiver is usually not much affected. So the dramatic rapid and unpredictable or threatening changes in the environment activate then stress response of central and phereparal nervous system. Thus the trauma throws the individual system out of equilibrium and intern the body rapidly tries to restore the balance, robbing the individual's normal state. The usual response of human brain when confronted with unbearable trauma is dissociation, hyper arousal (the state of hyper vigilance activating stress hormones more level) or a combination of both. Thus the survival strategy range from fighting, fleeing or give up or surrender reaction. The nature intensity and frequency or which depends on individual child. Following this the child enter the phase of posttraumatic period during which the mind and body slowly tends to come back. During this period the child moves from the brink of terror through fear, alarm, etc. The heartbeat, pressure and other physiciological adaptation normalize and hyper vigilance increases. Now the child goes through phase of fear and anxiety and the event gets played in the child's mind again and again trying to make sense of what has happened. This set of living and reliving experiences is called as intrusions - that process them for a long term as a memory that disturbs their adult life. (Bell, D., & Belic ki, K. (1998). (3) Effects of Trauma on childhood period: The experiences leave the child with at times unusual visual auditory or tactile sensations. Disturbed sleep and food patterns are also altered. The child post trauma experiences persisting emotional behavior, cognitive and physiological science and symptoms - The posttraumatic stress disorder characterized by impulsivity, distractibility, attention problems, emotion problems, sleep problems, social avoidance, dissociation, aggressiveness, failure in school and delayed development.

The Al-Qaeda Terrorist Organization Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The Al-Qaeda Terrorist Organization - Essay Example The 9/11 created such a deep global impact that almost overnight, it virtually created a new breed of foreign, immigration and security policies not only of the United States but its allies as well. Al Qaeda, which means â€Å"the base’, is an international terrorist organization that was born at the heel of the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan in 1989. It was created out of the remnants of Arab participation in the Afghan resistance against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan since 1978. As the defeated Soviets left Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden created al Qaeda to maintain the roster who participated in the resistance for future jihads. When bin Laden returned to Afghanistan in 1996 after he was driven out of Sudan through American pressure, he set up training camps for the training of Islamic militants under the noses of the hospitable Taliban. The group came under public glare in 1998 when it was linked to the bombing of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. It virtually became a household name, however, after the suicide attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, an incident now known as 9/11 (Robinson 17). Al Qaeda’s advantage over other terrorist groups is its global reach. It is most noted for its use of suicide terrorism directed at multiple targets simultaneously. It is believed that the purpose of al Qaeda is religious – that is, the establishment of a caliphate in the Middle East. Some quarters believed however that its motivations are political and religion is a mere front concealing a goal geared at establishing global dominion.

Professional Development Plan Essay Example for Free

Professional Development Plan Essay Introduction The Professional Development Plan (PDP) is a structured process made by an individual to reflect on their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan their personal, educational and career development. PDP complies a range of procedures, such as planning, doing, recording, and reflection. (The Higher Education Academy 2012) The objective of this PDP is to help improve existing skills or to develop new ones. In order to do so, a self-assessment, SWOT analysis, SMART and Belbin’s self-perception inventory will be completed, to acknowledge strengths and weaknesses. Section 1: Professional Development Plan For this PDP three distinct goals will be developed. * Individual Goal – Time Management and Personal Organisation * Group Working Goal – Searching databases * Academic Goal – Listen, read and take notes To help set the goals, three goals worksheets were completed and the SMART diagnosis was applied (See Appendix 1 and 2). SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable Attainable, Realistic and Time-bound. (Scanlon 2011) Time Management and Personal Organisation This goal was chosen as the individual goal because managing time and being organised was always a struggle, and therefore for several times in numerous occasions the effect was unpleasant. By being able to manage time and being more organised, opportunities will rise to have a more effective performance in personal, academic and professional life. This weakness was noted through the self-assessment comprised by a friend, a colleague and myself (See Appendix 3). This skill was not developed sooner out of pure laziness and lack of motivation. To achieve this goal I will do weekly schedules to see what was done during the week and check if certain activities were accomplished (See Appendix 4). This goal is set to be developed until 11th March 2012. Searching Databases This goal was chosen as the group working goal because searching databases was always a difficult task, either it was for personal, academic or work related purposes. Whenever there are group works, this task is always passed on to other members, which made my ability to improve less feasible. This weakness was noted through the Belbin Test (See Appendix 5). This skill was not developed until now because there was lack of knowledge of databases resources. To achieve this goal I will carry on a research about Miss Universe, looking for information in all resources I can find (See appendix 6). As there were no relevant books on the subject, I had to confine the search to the Internet. This goal is set to be developed until 12th March 2012. Listen, Read and Take Notes This goal was chosen as the academic goal because as English is not my first language, it is sometimes difficult to keep up with lectures and at the same time take notes, as well as it is difficult to read, comprehend in just one go, and take notes. By developing this skill, when preparing for exams, being in lectures, workshops and work meetings, listening, reading and taking notes, will become simple, efficient, quick and easy. This weakness was noted while in class, at home and at work, and later on identified in SWOT analysis and also through the self-assessment comprised by a friend, a colleague and myself (See Appendix 3 and 7). The SWOT analysis is a notably useful tool to identify and analyse opportunities for development and related barriers and challenges. SWOT is an acronym for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Being Strengths and Weaknesses internal factors and Opportunities and Threats external factors. (Scanlon 2011) To achieve this goal I will take notes from lectures and from a few pages of one of the recommended books for this unit (See Appendix 8). This goal is set to be developed until 12th March 2012. Section 2: Progress Review Time Management and Personal Organisation For this goal I did weekly sheets to see my development. I did the first weekly sheet in 19th December 2011. As I was not working at the moment my only responsibility was University, and seems like the less responsibility one has, the less he/she does. That is exactly what was happening. I was spending most of my days watching television and/or watching series online, or simply just spending days sleeping. I had my mother and a friend over for Christmas and New Year. With their presence here, I felt like doing even less, because all I wanted was to spend time with them or go out and show them Manchester. So basically all the activities I was always planning to do, I ended up not doing them. I knew I had an exam in early January, and yet I did not study until the week before the exam. I managed to pass the exam with a low pass, 44%, but I know I could have done much better if only I dedicated myself to study longer and in advance. So after this happened I realized it was time for me to stop being lazy and change my attitude towards the use of my time. I started watching less television and less series online. I started reading a novel ‘The Lucky One’, I started getting more worried with the planning of my PDP, I joined the gym and I was more focused in finding a job. For a while it was difficult having so many activities after not having basically none. I started going to the gym more often, like twice or three times a week. I started going to Church also; I did not go in a long time. I was more focused in classroom, and I understood more of the topics in study. I was feeling more motivated, less lazy, and I was managing my time very well. I was more organized with my studies, and personal life. I kept a diary so I would know what I did and what I needed to do. So in the end, I think the development of this goal helped me a lot, it improved my attendance in University, and also my productivity at home. Searching Databases For this goal I did a research on Miss Universe. Their history, how it started, who invented it, what is its purpose, previous contestants, the actual Miss Universe Leila Lopes, that is Miss Angola, from my birth country. I have to admit I chose this as my research topic because of how proud I am of her. She is a beautiful woman, and gave her best and deserved to won. As I was doing the research on the subject, I realized I did not choose the best topic to do a research, because I could only find information on the Internet. There are no relevant books on this subject, and even the news I found, were on online newspapers. But as I did not have more time to think of a new topic, and start doing a new research, because I still had my last goal to develop, I had to keep up with lectures of both units, and look for a job, I just kept this topic. I do not think I had great improvements with this goal, and it was mainly because of my topic of research choice. I could not explore others sources, and that confined me to the Internet, which has a wide range of irrelevant information. So this is one goal I will keep on developing because it is really necessary for the years ahead. Listen, Read and Take Notes For this goal I gathered as evidence all the notes I have from lectures I attended, and notes I made from a few pages of one of the recommended books: ‘Organizational Behaviour’ by Buchanan and Huczynski (2010). It was hard in the beginning because I did not know where to begin. I was trying to be more focus in class, by not having my phone close, and not talking with colleagues unnecessarily. As we only have 2 classes per week, it was hard to develop this skill, so I decided that notes from the lectures alone would not be enough. I started to do notes from the book referred above. And after a while I was feeling more confident, my notes were becoming good. I would write more in the lecture notes, instead of just listening and getting home, and not knowing what were the main points of that topic. I will still keep on developing this skill because it is non-stop, I know I am still far from excellent, but it was good to give it a go, and actually see some changes even though they are little. Goal Setting and S.M.A.R.T goals Specific – What (goal), why (reasons), which (constraints) etc.? Clearly stated outcome you wish to achieve. Measurable – Can progress be assessed? A goal that you can evidence, i.e., demonstrate its achievement in way and can show progress. Attainable – Can the goal be accomplished? The goal should not be too high or low. Goals that are set too high or too low become meaningless. It should stretch you a bit, without being too extreme. Realistic – Is the goal worthwhile? Make sure goal can be achieved within the framework of your life before the submission date, not as you would hope or would like it to be. You have to be willing and able to work on the goal. Time-bound – What is your target completion date? Make sure goal that you set for yourself can be achieved within the timeframe and before the submission deadline of 14 March 2012. You must have start and endpoints.

Human Resources In US Healthcare

Human Resources In US Healthcare The healthcare industry is the largest employer in the United States, in 2002; this industry consisted of 518,000 organizations that employed 12.9 million individuals (Fallon McConnell, 2007). The healthcare sector employs 10.9% of all employment in the United States and has a 16% new job growth. The reason behind this growth is primarily due to two factors: increased in the use of technology and the continued aging of the population (McConnell, 2006). Large numbers of individuals are needed to provide, record, and bill for the services provided to the patients. Human resources are the backbone of the health organization because they address the need to ensure that each department is staffed with qualified and motivated personnel (Hernandez, 2009). In strategic human resources planning, the human resources department is an important member of the healthcare industry. The HR department is involved in a number of activates that together comprise of four major activity groupings: hirin g of employees, maintaining employees, retaining employees, and separating employees. To most people the human resources department is viewed as more administrative than advisory and as an enforcer of policies than the actual policy makers. Basically, people consider this department as where you go to get hired or to file your personal papers. There are times when other departments may look upon the human resources department negatively and this is due to the fact that other departments may not know the rules and regulations that HR must follow for example: a department manager may have a key position that has been vacant for a few weeks and because of the vacancy the other employees in the department has to work mandatory overtime (Bohlander, Snell, Reviews, 2009) An ideal candidate has been interviewed by the HR department and is then referred to the manager for another interview, the manager then tell HR that this is the exact person they are looking for and they would like this person to start in their department as soon as tomorrow, however, because of the proto cols that HR must follow they are not able to hire this person before a background check, references and a drug test has been done. The manager of the department may then complain to their senior manger that HR is taking their time or is unwilling to cooperate (Bohlander, Snell, Reviews, 2009). There are many departments within the healthcare field, from different types of physicians, nurses, administration and technicians. In hospitals the human resources has a part in hiring all of these people, in private facilities that is owned by one or two physicians the HR department will in most cases hirer everyone except the physicians. Physicians are some of the most important people that work in a hospital; they are traditionally the focus of the health care industry. The reason is because they are the people who primarily evaluate and diagnose patients conditions and prescribe treatment. When it comes to the hiring of a physician, it must be determine that their services will be an asset to the hospital because of their salary related costs. When there is a need for the hiring of a physician, the HR department must make sure he/she is competent, a background check must be preformed and they must make sure they are licensed to practice in the state where they are practicing. Ph ysicians must complete internship/residency which is a form of paid on the job training and this is usually done at a hospital. Nurses work closing with physicians because they provide the primary care to the patients in both hospital and clinic settings. The duties of nurses differ depending on the type of setting in which they are working. The different settings that nurses work in are: Hospitals Nursing homes Private practice Ambulatory center centers Managed care organization Worksites Government and private agencies Clinics Schools Retirement communities Rehabilitation centers Nurses are increasingly being employed by outpatient centers and home healthcare organizations because of the trends toward discharging patients from hospitals faster and performing many procedures in outpatient settings (Wolper, 2004). When a nurse is hired the human resources department must make sure that the nurse is licensed to practice. A nurses licensure is achieved by graduating from an accredited nursing school and completing a national exam. A physician that does not have a MD or a DO degree are non-physician practitioners, they provide health services in areas similar to those of a physicians. In 47 states and the District of Columbia, they can prescribe medication (Wolper, 2004). Human resources may be recognizable as 5 different models, these are: clerical, counseling, industrial relations, control and consulting model. Under clerical model, human resources perform the following duties: processor, file paper, keep records, and track various statistics and key dates and administrator of employee benefits plans. Under this model, the top manager of this department is most likely to be experiences as a benefits administrator or have a similar practitioner orientation. The counseling model is relatively common in hospitals because the total cost of employees represents a large portion of the budge and there is an emphasis on maintaining employees as effective productions. Under this model HR is likely to: function as an advocate for employees, place high priority on preserving privacy and confidentiality, actively stress training and development and function as a resource to managers for people problems, disputes, and disciplinary issues. The industrial relation s model develops in organizations in which the work force is unionized, and there are periodic contract negotiations and considerable activity having to do with grievances and arbitrations. HR functions specified by contract are performed automatically and as expected, with little room for flexibility or judgment in their performance. The control model observed in very few organizations offers the HR department substantial power, under this model little management action is taken without the clearance of HR; the HR department is current and knowledgeable concerning all legal requirements and the HR executive will be a key member of the organizations administrative team. The consulting model is usually found in larger organizations, under this model the HR practitioners are usually expert resources, relied upon by employees, department managers, and executive management according to need. There are alternative models such as managerial model and financial model, under the managerial model the HR has no particular strategic outlook or long range planning involvement. A HR function operating under the financial model displays maximum attention to HR costs, in particular, indirect compensation costs such as health and dental insurance, life insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other benefits. The human resources department of any healthcare entity must protect and encourage the quality of the patients relationship with the healthcare entity, but it also must protect and encourage the quality of the employees relationship with the healthcare entity. The employees of the healthcare industry must provide compassion and they should consider care but their job satisfaction is important. The major managerial function surrounding human resources are: Strategic Planning Recruitment and Selection Retention Compensation and Benefits Performance Evaluation Training and Education Legal and Regulatory Issues Strategic planning is the process of matching the human resources of an business with its goals and objectives. In strategic HR planning, the human resources department is an important member of the executive committee. Recruitment and selection allow hiring of the best candidate with the needed skills. When recruiting people for a new position, it is important to recruit internally as well as externally, because a member of the current staff may be appropriate for the position. It is important that new recruits fit into the organizational culture but it is also critical to assess the organizational culture to ensure that it is not a source of retention problems. For example: doctors lack of respect for nurses in some organizations has created a retention problem for nurses. The process of recruitment, selection, and training is intensive and expensive, in both actual cost and opportunity costs. High compensation is a factor that will enhance retention of workers, benefits is also im portant in retention. Performance evaluation is a way to define the level of competence of an employee as measured against a certain standard level of skills and knowledge. To encourage the practice of performance evaluation, many health care organizations, especially integrated health care systems are implementing, pay for performance, compensation plans. Pay for performance can be based on individual, tem, organization goals. Human Resources not only have to deal with many challenges such as training and education mandates, health care organizations must be knowledgeable of the legal and regulatory issues related to the HR department in general. This is especially when it deals with safety in the workplace and union regulations, because of the potential for exposure to blood borne pathogens and radiological substance. Health care organization must have appropriate safety measures in place to protect their employee against injury, as well as appropriate training to facilitate the use of these safety measures. Another challenge in HR is planning is very important in the HR department; by planning correctly (McConnell, 2006). HR can avoid having a surplus or a shortage. If HR has hired too many employees for the health care faculty then there would be a surplus but it do not hire enough then there would be a shortage. The health care organization is very diverse, diversity means a wider range of people bring ing a greater variety of approaches to work, ideas, lifestyles issues and many other things. Human resource policies must address these differences in order to attract, retain, and maximize the contributions of all members of the changing workforce. Human resource planning in the 21st century is a much more comprehensive set of analyses and examinations to ensure that the HR department function optimally contributes to the organizations overall business success. Human resources function is striving toward creating stronger business partnerships within the organization, the need for thorough and accurate HR planning is likely to be unique to each organization. There are laws that affect different aspects of employment relationship, the human resources department must be aware of these pieces of legislation. A significant legislation was the Civil Rights Act of 1964; this legislation marked the beginning of significant changes in relations between the government and business in the United States (McConnell, 2006). Before the Civil Rights Act, businesses were free to treat their employees essentially as they chose, there were only two exceptions: wage and hour laws and labor relations laws. Prior to 1964, the only laws that had not iceable impact on the employment relationship were the Fair Labor Standards Act and related state laws, and the National Labor Relations Act. Employees payment of wages and other related conditions of employment were governed under the Fair Labor Standards Act (McConnell, 2006). The relationship between work organizations and labor unions were governed under the National Labor Relations Act. The Social Security Act provided low income elderly people with social insurance. In 1937 this act was expanded to provide benefits to survivors of covered workers who became permanently disabled. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) went into effect on July 1st, 1997; this law ensures that most persons who change jobs will receive continuous health insurance without regard to many preexisting health conditions (McConnell, 2006). Organization need to consider a variety of issues when analyzing the impact of HIPAA on their organization. Some issues that may impact their organization are: HIPAA is about improving the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the healthcare system. Limited resources, both in terms of dollars, staffing, and time Convergence of e-health strategies and HIPAA objectives, which are clearly connect in the areas of standardization and technical security measures. Constraining effects of legacy systems within industry, which add to cost of compliance as well as ongoing dependency on vendors. There will be a profound impact on overall healthcare industry electronic communications and transactions HIPAA have pave the way for increasingly sophisticated e-health and other healthcare e-commerce and communications applications as well as for new uses of evolving technologies, such as hand held devices and wireless access (Fallon, McConnell, 2007). There are a few healthcare industry forecasts that will directly impact job analysis. In healthcare technology is ever and quickly changing and such technology makes new procedures and treatment possible. These new treatments and procedures provide a solution that meets medical needs for a number of patients, which leads to an increasing survival rate and the rising life expectancy of the nation as a whole. It is believed that over the next 15 years, there will be a shortage of physicians in the United States. We may also see a similar trend in the supply of nurses. With the demand for quality healthcare increasing by an aging population demanding more health care service, the nursing shortage will be an important strategic human resource issue in the health care industry (Shi, 2007). Job analysis will play an important role. Since the healthcare industry is forever changing, the idea of strategic job analysis surely will become a major focus on healthcare organizations. Strategic jo b analysis is the identification and specification of future jobs takes and responsibilities and the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform those jobs that currently do not currently exist but are anticipated to be needed in the future. There should be also be anticipation of the future changes in terms of laws and regulations, employee demographics, profession shortages, technology, information, technology, and other possible changes (Shi, 2007). It is important for human resources to know which jobs and associated tasks will be needed in the future, along with identifying the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other requirements needed to perform such jobs, will be a potential advantage for health care organization desiring to effectively compete in the future.

Professional Relationships with Children and Young People

Professional Relationships with Children and Young People Unit 01 Communication and Professional Relationships with Children and Young People (2.1) (2.5). This task is all about communicating with children, young people and adults. Please explain what you have learnt/know using the headings provided (2.1), (2.2) Explain the skills needed to communicate with children and young people. (2.1) To communicate effectively with children and young people, you must be able to demonstrate the following skills; Showing effective communication. This is the main way to build relationships with children and young people. Communicating effectively includes using body language, facial expressions, facing the child, using open handed gestures, and smiling. It is important to be courteous and respectful when communicating, listening to the childs point of view. Being considerate of the childs position and needs, and remembering issues that are personal to them, and taking the time to actively listen to the child. Breakdowns in communication and relationships often stem from not being able to listen attentively. It is important, when communicating with children and young people, to be clear and concise, using age appropriate language in a way that the child understands, taking into consideration any additional learning needs that they may have. Being relaxed, confident and articulate helps the child or young person to follow the conversation and gives them confidence when communicating with you as a teaching assistant. It is important to avoid sarcasm and shouting as this can cause the child to become frightened and confused. It is important to provide questions, prompts and cues to encourage and support the childs language skills and to assist with their independent learning. Asking open questions encourages children and young people to talk. As well as asking questions, it is important to be able to answer the childs question and responding positively to what is being said and encourage them to ask questions. Explain how to adapt communication with children and young people for. (2.2) The age of the child or young person It is important to take into consideration the age of the child or young person you are communicating with, as this affects how you adapt your communication style, and the childs level of understanding and ability to communicate effectively. When communicating with a younger child it is important to make sure that you are at their level and able to maintain good eye contact with them. Using simple and clear language helps young children to understand and follow what is being said. It is important to ask simple, open questions for very young children to encourage them to talk. Younger children may need more assurance and help in expressing themselves than an older child would. For older children, it is important to provide opportunities for meaningful conversation to take place. As a teaching assistant, you should be receptive to new ideas, respond positively and actively listen to the young person. This then gives them the confidence to express their views and opinions. The context of the communication Communication should be adapted according to the situation we are in. As a teaching assistant, we would be adapting our communication with children or young people according to the academic setting of the classroom environment or individual or group learning activity, or a more social setting such as the playground or dining hall. In the classroom, it would be necessary to take a more formal approach to communicating with children and young people, so as to maintain their focus and attention on the task at hand. In more social settings you would be able to take a less formal approach to communication, keeping conversation light and fun. Communication differences Effective communication with children and young people must take into account any difficulties the child might have when communicating. Kamen (2010), states that everyone has individual language needs, but some people may have additional or special needs that affect their ability to communicate effectively with others. Factors affecting a childs communication abilities include; English as a second language. Autistic spectrum disorders, behavioural/emotional difficulties, cognitive difficulties, and hearing impairments. As a teaching assistant, it is important to be aware of each childs communication needs and to be able to adapt our communication skills to support them. It is vital that we keep information clear and concise, ensuring that it is kept short and avoiding complex words and instructions. We must ensure that we are patient and understanding with the child or young person so that they do not feel rushed or pressured. Sometimes, it may be necessary to use additional aids to assist with communication. Additional aids may include pictures, signs, or symbols, sign language, or even an interpreter for a child whose first language is not English. Explain the main differences between communicating with adults and children/young people (2.3) As a teaching assistant, we must be aware of how we communicate, not only with children and young people, but also with adults. We must look at the situation which we are in, for example, in a classroom with children, or in the playground, or in a meeting with other professionals or parents evening. If speaking to a child in the classroom, communication can be more playful and less formal than in the classroom environment, all the while maintaining a level of professionalism. Communication with adults (professionals and parents) would be more formal. It is important to maintain a high level of professionalism when communicating with both adults and children. It is vital that you maintain a high level of respect when communicating with adults and children as this helps to build trust and foster positive relationships. When communicating with adults it is possible to use more complex language, discussion, and negotiation. With younger children, there is a much bigger emphasis placed on body language, facial expressions, pitch, and the use of more simple language. Explain how to adapt communication to meet the different communication needs of adults (2.4) It is important to also be aware of the communication needs of adults and to adapt our communication skills accordingly. Often, we change the way we communicate with others depending on the way they respond to us and we often adapt the way we communicate without realising it, (Burnham Baker, 2010). If you are speaking with an adult with a hearing impairment, it is important to ensure that you are facing them and making eye contact so that they can lip read. It may be necessary to adapt your communication to include written communication as an aid. Much of the time you would ensure that you are facing the person you are communicating with and making eye contact as this reassures them that you are engaged in the conversation and actively listening to them. Where appropriate it may be necessary to use the help of someone else when communicating with others. For example, if someone is deaf it could be useful to have the help of someone who knows sign language or if English is not their first language then a translator would be helpful, It is also important to make sure you are using the correct form of address, using positive body language and being friendly and approachable. Explain how to manage disagreements between TAs and children/young people and adults (2.5) Breakdown in communication can lead to misunderstandings and disagreements. Therefore, it is important to clarify any misunderstanding by adapting the way that we communicate. Disagreements with adult can be resolved by discussing and negotiating any issues quickly and sensitively. Sometimes adults may have differing ideas about how to deal with things. Schools may suggest that children do things in a particular way, whereas the parents may not agree with this. It is important to discuss this with the parents, clarifying why things happen differently in the school environment and working alongside the parent/caregiver to ensure the best outcome for the child. A good way to manage disagreements and misunderstandings is to clarify what someone has said to be sure that we have fully understood them. Tassoni (2010) uses the following example of checking understanding with a child to avoid miscommunication; Child: Want that. Me want that! Practitioner: So you want the ball, do you? Child: (Nods). With adults, we would simply ask to clarify what is being said, and discuss any misunderstandings. Homework Submission Declaration Candidate Print Name Katie Rolinson Candidate Signature References Tassoni, P. (2010) Children and Young People Workforce: Early Learning and Childcare. Essex, Heinemann. Burnham, L Baker, B. (2010) Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools (Primary) Essex, Heinemann. Kamen, T. (2010) Childrens Care, Learning and Development: 0-16 Years. London, Hodder Education.

Study Drugs: A Students New Best Friend? Essay -- Research Science Sc

Study Drugs: A Student's New Best Friend? Many people who want to lose weight wish there was a â€Å"magic pill† that would eliminate the process of dieting and exercising. Those looking for fun, have the â€Å"love pill† commonly known as ecstasy. In an age where everything comes to us so easily, where feelings don’t have to be felt but chemically induced instead, one might address a common problem college students face hoping to find a simple solution. Stuck in the library with a term paper due the next morning and thoughts of your empty bed just waiting for you is not a far fetched scenario for most college students. A cup of coffee can only do so much and with grades falling as fast as the temperature one resorts to other measures to stay awake. Putting it simply: study drugs. Take Lily* for example, a junior at Northeastern University. Lily tired herself out living the ideal college person’s social life. She slept all day and spent the majority of her night going to clubs, parties and bars around the city. This suited her fine until the dreaded days came when she realized she had two term papers due the next day and a test. Sitting in her room Lily wonders how she can do it all in one night. Just like the overweight she wanted a quick solution. Fortunately, unlike the overweight who don’t have the good fortune of having a pill ready to them, she did. When coming face to face with the aftermath of procrastination some students turn to study drugs. Medication such as Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexederine that are prescribed to those with attention deficit disorder, a neurological disorder that those with poor attention spans are diagnosed with, have proved to give those without the disorder, such as Lily, an extra energy b... ... Internet so I knew exactly what to tell the doctor. After that, he gave me a prescription. Now I am all set.† It is virtually impossible to keep track of those that are using the drug illegally. After all there is not law against college students carrying their own medication. This leaves plenty of opportunity for people to use and abuse the drug. All is not lost. Programs and campaigns around college campuses can help reduce the usage and addiction of study drugs. Lane Health Center at Northeastern University can use multiple measures to prevent study drugs usage by students from various walks of life. For example, alternatives should be offered in order to not only send the message of â€Å"drugs are bad† but also â€Å"there are other things you can do.† "I think people get addicted to what you can accomplish with it more than the actual drug," Lily said.

Dramatic Tension in The Crucible Essay -- The Crucible Arthur Miller W

Dramatic Tension in The Crucible The play, ‘The Crucible’, illustrates how people react to mass hysteria created by a person or group of people, as people did during the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s and the Salem witch hunts of 1962. Many Americans were wrongly accused of being Communist sympathizers. The activities of the House of Un-American Activities Committee began to be linked with the witchcraft trials that had taken place in the town of Salem. This provided Miller with the catalyst to write ‘The Crucible’. Without the knowledge of the McCarthy hearings and the Salem witch hunts, ‘The Crucible’ may be seen as a melodrama and the events in the play, sensationalised. It is not a melodrama because it is not overly dramatic; the McCarthy hearings and the witch hunts inject realism in the play. The play deals with historical events and with characters that have a historical context. Through the use of dialogue, stage directions which enable us to envisage the scene on stage and characterisation we can see how dramatic tension is created by Miller. These aspects are to be explored for each act. Act One begins with Reverend Parris praying fervently over his daughter, Betty Parris, who lies unconscious on her bed. The stage directions indicate that the room is quite dark with only a candle burning and sunlight through the window lighting the room. Parris is frightened, confused and angered by Betty’s illness, perhaps wondering what he has done wrong to be inflicted with such misery. This shown by the way he prays, then weeps and then starts praying again as if he unsure even of his emotions. He is very tense and is quickly angered without provocation, for example when Tituba inquires about Betty he turns on her in fury and shouts at her to get out. He then starts to sob and in his fear he starts to mumble to Betty to wake up, his feeling of inadequacy is expressed through his fragmented, disjointed sentences. ‘Oh, my God! God help me! Betty. Child. Dear Child. Will you wake, will you open your eyes! Betty, little one†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ He turns on Abigail and confronts her and through the conversation between Reverend Parris and his niece Abigail, the audience learns that the town’s girls, including Abigail and Betty, had engaged in activities in the forest led by Tituba; Parris’ slave from Barbados. At this moment they are only provided with conflicting accou... ...he town like others before him. He and Rebecca are led out and Parris, Hale and Elizabeth are left on stage. A drum roll is heard in the background, showing that there is little time left to stop the hangings. Parris and Hale plead frantically with Elizabeth to stop him and that there is time yet but as the drum roll signifies, not much time. Elizabeth knows that this is the only way things can end so that she and Proctor can finally be at peace. She replies to hale and Parris, ‘He have his goodness now. God forbid I take it from him!’ The loud drum roll that heightens violently at the end of the play signifies a definite end to the play. It leaves a tense atmosphere; which leaves the audience to contemplate the play and particular characters and their relevance to the title. Proctor would be seen as the one comes out of the ‘crucible’ purified. The light that shines through the window at the very end of the play makes the ending symbolic. The word, ‘new’ almost lets us forget all the tragic events that have passed and that the best solution would be to start afresh. It leaves the audience thinking there is a hope for the people of Salem especially with the presence of light.

Martin Luther King and Love :: essays research papers

It is rather difficult to speak of love in an original sense today. If someone were to ask an individual to define love, a common response would be, â€Å"love cannot be explained, it cannot be defined†. This answer would be acceptable if love was equally felt for and between all people. But anyone would have to agree to the fact that there are different degrees and levels of love. Someone would not love his or her family members the same way they would his or her spouse. Love varies between different levels of action and feeling, and a definition of each level must be discovered in order to understand its varying power. Martin Luther King Jr. felt the need to address this particular issue when discussing the principles behind the non-violent student movement for civil rights. King felt that a working idea of love was the keystone to the philosophy of a non-violent protest. Turning to the Greek language and idea of love, King was able to define three particular levels, eros, philia, and agape. His goal was to take one of these three levels and use it as the definitive quality of the non-violent movement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The non-violent philosophy was not a movement of pacifism to Martin Luther King, it was one of action. Absolute strength was apparent in its practice, but how? The student movement caused many of its’ participants to be severely beaten, chastised, and arrested, only to continue while never fighting back. Why were they doing this? King felt the answer was that through their actions they would awaken not only the majority, but more importantly the minority to the need for equal rights. Apathy had set in among both groups causing them to accept the current state of affairs, and like the great â€Å"gadfly† Socrates, King and the students were forcing both groups to wake up and open their eyes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, to get back on track, it is important to look at the three separate levels of love, and it would make sense to first look at eros. Eros is a romantic love, the kind of love one would have towards a beautiful object, or person. It is that sexual drive that is most apparent at the early stages of a relationship. This could be considered to be the first definition people would think of when questioned about the meaning of love. In fact in a more layman attempt at understanding eros one can think of the feeling one has during a crush, where a person’s affections are aimed at a single individual. Martin Luther King and Love :: essays research papers It is rather difficult to speak of love in an original sense today. If someone were to ask an individual to define love, a common response would be, â€Å"love cannot be explained, it cannot be defined†. This answer would be acceptable if love was equally felt for and between all people. But anyone would have to agree to the fact that there are different degrees and levels of love. Someone would not love his or her family members the same way they would his or her spouse. Love varies between different levels of action and feeling, and a definition of each level must be discovered in order to understand its varying power. Martin Luther King Jr. felt the need to address this particular issue when discussing the principles behind the non-violent student movement for civil rights. King felt that a working idea of love was the keystone to the philosophy of a non-violent protest. Turning to the Greek language and idea of love, King was able to define three particular levels, eros, philia, and agape. His goal was to take one of these three levels and use it as the definitive quality of the non-violent movement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The non-violent philosophy was not a movement of pacifism to Martin Luther King, it was one of action. Absolute strength was apparent in its practice, but how? The student movement caused many of its’ participants to be severely beaten, chastised, and arrested, only to continue while never fighting back. Why were they doing this? King felt the answer was that through their actions they would awaken not only the majority, but more importantly the minority to the need for equal rights. Apathy had set in among both groups causing them to accept the current state of affairs, and like the great â€Å"gadfly† Socrates, King and the students were forcing both groups to wake up and open their eyes.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First, to get back on track, it is important to look at the three separate levels of love, and it would make sense to first look at eros. Eros is a romantic love, the kind of love one would have towards a beautiful object, or person. It is that sexual drive that is most apparent at the early stages of a relationship. This could be considered to be the first definition people would think of when questioned about the meaning of love. In fact in a more layman attempt at understanding eros one can think of the feeling one has during a crush, where a person’s affections are aimed at a single individual.

Different businesses and their ownerships Essay

Introduction- The purpose of this report is to look at economic development matters and what encourages new businesses to locate to a new business park. I will be investigating two contrasting businesses that will create new jobs in the local economy. For the voluntary sector I have chosen Oxfam and for the private sector I have chosen Topshop. I have chosen Topshop and Oxfam as my two contrasting businesses. Topshop is a young girls and women’s clothes shop. This business is international and has stores all over the country. Topshop has 300 stores they are still growing and expanding. The owner of Topshop owns other retail shops like Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins. Topshop is part of Arcadia, a public limited company is owned by shareholders, which may be members of the public. Their shares can be bought and sold on the stock exchange. Topshop is run by a board of directors. These people make the major decisions within the business. They have limited liability; this means if the business gets into debt and cannot pay it, the business will get sued. This is known as incorporation. The shareholders’ personal assets cannot be taken to pay the debt; they are then only liable for how much they have invested in the business. The purpose of Topshop is to sell range of clothes for the public to buy, also to make profit. Oxfam is an international charity that was founded in 1942 in England. This organisation provides help to poor countries and disaster affected areas. The purpose of this contrasting business is to help people rebuild lives working on long term projects with communities determined to help ensure they have a better future. Topshop have their own aims and objectives, their aims are: Profit and profit maximisation – they want to make as much profit as they can Survival- they as a business want to be able to survive within the clothes industry and not fail because other businesses similar to them are opening up. Growth- they also want to be able to grow and expand their business and set up more stores in different part of the world to maximise their profit. Their SMART objectives are: SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, and Realistic, time Constrained. Their objectives are Specific because Topshop will only aim to focus on clothing and fashion accessories particularly directed at women. Measureable in this context will mean that Top shop’s market share can be easily assessed and get to know of their changing needs and wants. Achievable because their business strategies can be stretched to achieve the desired market share. Realistic would be whether they are actually achievable or not. Time constrained will mean they will achieve all the objectives by a certain time. Oxfam also have their own aims and objectives, their aims are: Oxfam’s aims are: To help people in poor countries and relieve poverty Help provide education for people who are in need of it They take donations like toys and clothes, and then they sell on for money and all the money goes to that charity. Raise money and encourage charitable giving. Oxfam’s objectives include To provide clean hospitals To be caring and welcoming to new people To be well organised Give the best possible treatment they can Give as much advice as they can Within Topshop there are a number of different stakeholders which influence the purpose of the business. The purpose of Topshop is to provide good products for customers and also to provide a good service. A stakeholder is anyone with an interest in a business. These can be individuals, groups or organisations and they are affected by the activity of the business. Topshop’s stakeholders: Customers- The businesses aims are set to please the customers and live up the customer expectations. The customers of Topshop expect high quality and value for money clothes and products. They also expect the latest fashion trends and to look good in them as they are paying so much. Topshop as a big clothing shop are aiming to make the working conditions better for the people that are producing their products so then the customers know the clothes have been made in good working conditions which is a benefit . If the customers at Topshop didn’t get what they wanted, they could go elsewhere. Therefore customers have an influence over how Topshop run their business. Employees- Topshop need employees to help the business to expand and open a range of stores. Employees can influence Topshop by contacting their trade unions if they’re not happy with their working conditions. Their point of view would be to make sure they have good rates of pay, good working conditions, contract of employment sick pay and holiday entitlements. Suppliers- For Topshop to make enough profit to keep the business running, they will need suppliers to be able to buy products and sell them to customers. Without suppliers the business wouldn’t survive. Owners- Owners are shareholders in the business, people that have invested in Topshop. If Topshop didn’t have shareholders then the business wouldn’t run as well. Trade unions- It’s an organisation which supports workers when they are in disputes with their employees over the rates of pay they are getting or working conditions they are in. If the manager of the business does not agree with the trade unions or employees then Topshop could lose staff over this. Local communities The community may shop in Topshop as it’s the closest store to them. This will influence Topshop by having local customers who may always have a quick look in their store when they have time. This will increase profit for  Topshop. Government- They make all the laws which Topshop have to stick to. This means if they don’t stick to these laws they could get fined and loses customers over. In conclusion, some stakeholders will have a much bigger influence compared to the others. For example staff could go elsewhere and find a new job and work there instead. Oxfam’s stakeholders Customers- Customers in Oxfam will buy products and the money made will go to the charity then gets passed on the people to provide them with foods, clothes etc. If Oxfam didn’t have customers then they wouldn’t be able to raise money and help people that are in need of education, clothes and food and water. Employees – Oxfam needs employees to help the commerce to expand its self and open more stores up around the world. Also they would need staff to help achieve their aims and objectives. The employees that work at Oxfam are volunteers and they don’t get paid. If they don’t have employees then the business wouldn’t be able to raise money for the charity. Suppliers- They have two types of suppliers, members of the general public who donate second hand goods. They influence Oxfam because if they didn’t donate to this organisation then Oxfam as a charity wouldn’t be able to stock their shops. The second types of suppliers have medical supplies which help people in third world countries. Owners- Oxfam is a charity and as such does not have owners but trustees who help to keep the organisation on track with its aims and purpose. Local communities- Local community donate and buy goods from the charity. They influence Oxfam because they buy goods of them and if they didn’t Oxfam wouldn’t be able to achieve their target of making money to give to that charity. Government – The government make laws and legislation which Oxfam must follow. They  influence them because Oxfam may have to change the way they work and how they run the business. In conclusion, the stakeholders of Oxfam have a big influence on the business and how they run the business. For example, employees have the biggest amount of influence because if the business doesn’t have enough staff they wouldn’t be able to expand the business and create more stores around the world to raise more money. Both organisations have a number of different stakeholders. Each of the stakeholders will have a level of influence on the businesses. Some stakeholders will have more influence than others. The stakeholders that I think would have the most influence in Topshop would be customers, employees, government and shareholders. Topshop’s main aim is to make a profit. Customers in Topshop want the latest fashionable clothes at reasonable prices. They also expect high quality products t hat last the season. If Topshop introduced clothes that did not meet their customers’ expectations then sales would decrease and Topshop would not be able to achieve their aims and objectives as they wouldn’t be making enough money to make a profit. Employees that work in Topshop have an influence on the businesses aims and objectives because if they didn’t have employees to work in the stores then they wouldn’t meet their aims and objectives as a business because people have any to buy the product off. Also employees are needed widely for expanding the business to different part of the world and opening more of the stores. The government also have a big influence on Topshop’s business aims and objectives as they make all the laws for not only that business but other businesses too and if the business doesn’t follow or stick to those rules then they will get fined and could have a bad reputation created which would have negative influences on them as current cust omers may be put off buying products from them and go to one of their competitors close by like New Look or River Island. Shareholders are the last of the four stakeholders I think have a big influence on Topshop’s aims and objectives. They are important because the store wouldn’t grow and expand if they didn’t have owners. Both organisations have a number of different stakeholders. Each of the stakeholders will have a level of influence on the businesses. Some stakeholders will have more influence than others. The stakeholders that I think would have the most influence in Oxfam would be volunteers, customers. I think volunteers would have a big influence on the businesses aims and  objectives for Oxfam because without volunteers, the stores wouldn’t be able to run and that means the charity would have money donated for the charity. Oxfam is not out there to make a profit; the business would be struggling not because of them not making a profit as there wouldn’t be anyone to work in the shops. Customers are very important in the influence of Oxfam’s aims and objectives as the business wants to have second hand goods handed in from the customers and then people will buy the second hand goods if they know the money is going to charity. If the customers weren’t coming into the charity shops then this would affect their aim to raise money because there is no-one to buy the products. Overall, I know that within the two contrasting businesses I have described above, they both have a number of different stakeholders that have an influence on their businesses aims and objectives.

Options for implementing a leadership change Essay

Gene One is a biotech company that has seen steady growth since entering the biotech industry in 1996. It was founded by the late Don Ruiz and four other directors. During the last eight years, Gene One has grown to become a $400 million dollar company. Gene One wants to continue this growth, and has decided to gain additional growth and funds by issuing an Initial Public Offering (IPO). This is in order to remain competitive in the market, since it needs more capital for new development, advertisement, and marketing if it is to remain successful.   In order for the IPO to be successful, Gene One needs a solid foundation to build upon. Gene One can take an in-depth look at key concepts such as effective teamwork through cooperation, trust, and cohesiveness, sources of conflict in organizations, knowledge management, elements of organizational structure, and assess the influence of organizational structure on power and politics (Scenario, 2006). Gene One is a growing company with many opportunities for further growth in the future. With this change, Gene One needs to revaluate all areas of the company and find solutions to problems within the organization. The company has many opportunities for changes, which will enable them to reach the goals needed. The key project is to find the best solution that will enable Gene One to reach their goals, and become better than its competitors. It will need to review the solutions that they have come up with, and the additional alternative solutions that have not even been reviewed (Holmstrom, 1994). Team analysis After the death of Don Ruiz, there is a big leadership gap left in the management of Gene One. The team is therefore incomplete without him, which is undesirable for effective management. Team building is both challenging and rewarding. Effective teams achieve results far beyond what individuals could accomplish on their own. However, team building is much more than putting a group of people together and hoping for the best. Teambuilding is an art that overcomes differences in style, personality, and other potential areas of conflict, but even when a team functions in total harmony, it may not achieve its goals (Brickley, 1987). As Don’s siblings, we have found ourselves having to take part in leadership at Gene One. Each family member was assigned one member of the remaining four members of the executive. In order to assess the remaining team’s likelihood of success, I gathered information about one team member and did an analysis on it. During my analysis, I found my subject to have the following desirable attributes: –  He can take charge, is assertive and can take control of a situation. – He is   outgoing, people-oriented and extroverted – He is concerned with accuracy, details and exactness – He is competitive, has   a great   desire to win and is aggressive – He is   easy going and casual, and   takes things as they come – He likes identifying and analyzing problems – He is concerned with timely results and is quick to take action – He is good team player who works well with others – he is concerned with standards and high quality work Attributes not well represented Despite all the good attributes, I found my subject with a few negative attributes. They include: – he has a negative attitude regarding people and outcomes – He is highly emotional and easily loses his temper – He gets impatient with the subordinate staff Recommendation With a few changes to the leadership structure of Gene One, I recommend my subject for a further role in management of Gene One. His attributes are impressive and can steer the company to great heights. However, he should help take the company through a transition to usher in a structure that separates ownership from management. Leadership style Gene One needs to develop a leadership style that involves the leader including one or more employees in the decision making process.   However, the leader maintains the final decision making authority. Using this style is not a sign of weakness; rather it is a sign of strength that your employees will respect. This is normally used when you have part of the information, and your employees have other parts. Note that a leader is not expected to know everything-this is why you employ knowledgeable and skillful employees. Using this style is of mutual benefit it allows them to become part of the team and allows you to make better decisions (Tannenbaum & Schmidt, 1958). Leadership structure The leadership structure at Gene One should change such that the titles of CEO and chairman of the board are separate entities. This will help separate management from leadership.   This is the best leadership structure for large corporations or others hoping to enter that league. Most large corporations are not managed by their owners or shareholders. Instead, they are managed by a leader-CEO or President- and a team of officers. The CEO or president is usually a professional trained in a particular field with the necessary experience. The CEO is accountable to the stockholders through their elected representative, the board of directors. Gene One should not have a dual CEO where the CEO functions simultaneously as the chair of the board. A non-dual CEO would be the best option for Gene One. Research has shown that CEO duality threatens Board independence, and can erode the essential oversight responsibilities of the Board (Daily and Dalton, 1994). Negative leadership should be avoided at all costs. Negative leaders act domineering and superior with people. They believe the only way to get things done is through penalties, such as loss of job, days off without pay, reprimand employees in front of others, etc. They believe their authority is increased by frightening everyone into higher lever of productivity. Yet what always happens when this approach is used wrongly is that morale falls; which of course leads to lower productivity.

Educational assessment and evaluation, Essay

The primary purpose of education is to enable learning The purpose of the assessment should be described and classified, whether formative or summative? whether student focused or program focused? For specific assessment, the following should be specified: Content Format Scoring, reporting and utilization of results ASSESSMENT – concerned with making judgments about the value, worth or quality of learning process Since evaluation involves judgments, it is important for educational managers to discuss and agree about the purpose of any evaluation activity and the criteria to be used in making judgments EVALUATION OF LEARNING OUTCOMES IN EDUCATION PURPOSE 1. Evaluation for accountability Several levels can be identified: national, local education( division or district),institutional,departmental School recognitions and accreditation Annual comparative data 2. Evaluation for improvement purposes School strive for better outcomes for their learners School need ways of evaluating how good the learning outcomes are How the outcomes may be sustained or improved Outcomes in Education 1. A well educated individual -complete with skills, knowledge and abilities a. Formative evaluation b. Summative evaluation c. 2. Achievements d. -refers to the achievement of the students in terms of examinations, tests, term papers and other scale national or international examinations such as: e. National Achievement Test (NAT) f. Career assessment g. Board examinations h. TIMSS 3. The added value of the school The whole-institutions quality and effectiveness measured by examination results brings added value to the school. 4. Learning skills Learning is a creative process in which the learner designs his own understandings and skills, imbibing new knowledge and experience while relating them to previous experiences. 5. Social and life skills Range of Intelligences and talents may broaden the range of educational aspirations such as creativity, cooperation, motivation and other interpersonal and social skills. Learning is done in social interactions. 6. Satisfaction Consultation from the stakeholders of the school Improvement of satisfaction is an important achievement of schools 7. Destination of Graduates Follow-up of graduates Employability is in terms of a. Waiting time b. Job fitness

Comparison between the “Incident” and the “Travel” Poems Essay

Comparison between the â€Å"Incident† and the â€Å"Travel† Poems Introduction First poem: Incident Keep looking straight at me. Now I was eight and very small, And he was no whit bigger, And so I smiled, but he poked out His tongue, and called me, â€Å"Nigger.† I saw the whole of Baltimore From May until December; Of all the things that happened there That’s all that I remember. Second poem: Travel By Edna St. Vincent Millay The railroad track is miles away, And the day is loud with voices speaking, Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day But I hear its whistle shrieking. All night there isn’t a train goes by, Though the night is still for sleep and dreaming, But I see its cinders red on the sky, And hear its engine steaming. My heart is warm with friends I make, And better friends I’ll not be knowing; Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, No matter where it’s going. Comparison between the two poems above   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first aspect to compare between the two poems above is the themes portrayed. In the first poem, â€Å"Incident† highlights the theme of racial discrimination. The speaker in the poem tells the audience how he was travelling in a bus when he encountered an event that he says that he is unlikely to forget. He says that while in the bus travelling to Baltimore, his happiness suddenly turned to sadness when a young boy of his age called him a Niger. In stanza three, the speaker says, â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦but he poked out His tongue, and called me, â€Å"Niger†. Niger is a word that is used to sarcastically insult African-Americans living in America. The speaker felt so sad and in the next eight months (from May to December) that he spent in Baltimore; he cannot remember anything else but that annoying incident. In stanza four of the poem, the speaker confirms that he can never forget. He says, â€Å"†¦.From May to Decem ber; of all the things that happened there, That’s all that I remember†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   On the other hand, the theme in the second poem, â€Å"Travel†, is that of discontentment. The speaker describes her feelings to the audience. She says in stanza threeâ€Å"My heart is warm with the friends I make, And better friends I’ll not be knowing†. In these lines, the speaker says that although she is presently happy with the friends that she has; she thinks the friends that she has not met already may be better. This is a clear indication of dissatisfaction that the speaker expresses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is also important to analyze the choice of the titles of the poems that the authors use and find out how relevant they are to the poem. The title that the author chooses carries too much weight in the understanding of the poem. The theme of the poem is highlighted in the title, albeit hidden and, therefore, identified after reading the whole poem. In the first poem, the title is â€Å"Incident†. The literal meaning of this word is a happening that is unusual. In this poem, the speaker describes an unusual happening that apparently happened to him. In his context, the speaker experienced an incident. Therefore, the title is very relevant to the poem. In the second poem, the title is â€Å"Travel†. The word travel means movement from one location to another. In the poem, the speaker is discontented by her present state. She longs to move to the next level. She uses train metaphorically to indicate that she wants to cease the next opportunity available and move to the next level. Therefore, the title captures this desire of the speaker so vividly and, therefore, in the context of the theme in this poem, it is very relevant.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The other aspect that needs comparison in these two poems is the choice of the language. The language that the author uses is aimed at making the poem interesting to the reader while bringing out the desired message. In the first poem, â€Å"Incident†, the author chooses to use the first person â€Å"I† in the poem. He allows the speaker to tell the audience about this incident in a direct manner. The reader, who is the audience, is able to connect with the speaker when the speaker talks about himself. For instance, in stanza two, the speaker says, â€Å"Now I was eight and very young,†¦..†. The speaker informs the audience that, at the time of the incident that happened to him, he was eight years old and was very small. Incidentally, the second poem also uses the first person â€Å"I†. The speaker tells the audience about her feelings. This style improves the connection between the audience and the speaker because the poem is about the speaker.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition, the two poems have used contracted language in several instances. In the first poem, there is the use of â€Å"That’s† instead of â€Å"That is† in the last stanza line four. This makes the poem informal and makes the readers connect with the speaker easily, especially in the modern times. In the second poem, instances of contractions are numerous. For example, there is the use of â€Å"I’ll† instead of â€Å"I will†, â€Å"isn’t† instead of â€Å"is not† and â€Å"it’s† instead of â€Å"it is† in the last stanza. Again, this contraction makes the poem informal. In the modern times, the poem becomes understandable. The choice of contractions is deliberate. The contractions make the number of syllables in the lines where they are equal to the rest of the lines.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another aspect of the poems that is worth comparison is the use of the rhyme technique in the poems. Both poems have a regular rhyme pattern that serve to make them more interesting to read. The rhyme pattern in the first poem is ABCB. To illustrate this rhyming pattern, it is necessary to pick the last words in one stanza. In this case, the last stanza has last words as â€Å"†¦Baltimore, †¦December, †¦there and †¦remember†. In the case of the second poem, the rhyme pattern is ABAB. The last stanza has the last words as â€Å"†¦make, †¦knowing, †¦..take and †¦.knowing†. The words illustrate the regular rhyme pattern. The same patterns are repeated throughout the poems. The regular rhyme pattern help make the poem rhythmical and lyrical.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   It is important to compare the mood in each, and the tone used in either poem. In the first poem, the mood is jovial initially as depicted in the first and the second stanza. The speaker expresses his joy when he smiles at the stranger boy. However, the mood changes to sadness after the speaker is insulted by the boy when he calls him Nigger. As the mood changes, so does the tone. It starts as joyfully to a somber one. In the second poem, the tone is optimistic. The speaker is optimistic and hopeful of a better future. However, there is some tinge of negativity in the tone in the first two stanzas. This negative tone expresses speaker’s dissatisfaction about her current status.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The first poem uses imagery when the speaker tells the audience how he saw a boy staring straight at him. He smiled at him. The reader can vividly see the mental image of the speaker smiling at the stranger. In the second poem, the author employs metaphor by using a train to signify different paths in life. The speaker says that â€Å"†¦..Yet there isn’t a train I wouldn’t take, No matter where it’s going† in the last stanza. It means that the speaker is willing to take any path in life although there is no opportunity that is presenting itself. In addition, the second poem has employed personification in the first stanza when the speaker implies that the Train â€Å"whistling† and â€Å"shrieking†.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two poems have so much in common. The similarities emanate from the choice of the language and the styles employed. Therefore, it is clear that poets have one thing in common as far as their writing skills are concerned. They have a rich background of poetry techniques. They always employ them appropriately to suit the message intended to be delivered. References St, John R. A. Explorations in Literature. Greenville, S.C: BJU Press,  2013. Print. Source document