How to Do a Science Fair Project for School

How to Do a Science Fair Project for School Okay, you have a subject and you have at least one testable question. If you havent done so already, make sure you understand the steps of the scientific method. Try to write down your question in the form of a hypothesis. Lets say your initial question is about determining the concentration required for salt to be tasted in water. Really, in the scientific method, this research would fall under the category of making observations. Once you had some data, you could go on to formulate a hypothesis, such as: There will be no difference between the concentration at which all members of my family will detect salt in water. For elementary school science fair projects and possibly high school projects, the initial research may be an excellent project in itself. However, the project will be much more meaningful if you can form a hypothesis, test it, and then determine whether or not the hypothesis was supported. Write Down Everything Whether you decide on a project with a formal hypothesis or not, when you perform your project (take data), there are steps you can take to make the most of your project. First, write everything down. Gather your materials and list them, as specifically as you can. In the scientific world, it is important to be able to duplicate an experiment, especially if surprising results are obtained. In addition to writing down data, you should note any factors that could affect your project. In the salt example, it is possible that the temperature could affect my results (alter the solubility of salt, change the bodys rate of excretion, and other factors I might not consciously consider). Other factors you might note could include relative humidity, the  age of participants in my study, a list of medications (if anyone is taking them), etc. Basically, write down anything of note or potential interest. This information could lead your study in new directions once you start taking data. The in formation you take down at this point could make a fascinating summary or discussion of future research directions for your paper or presentation. Don't Discard Data Perform your project and record your data. When you form a hypothesis or seek the answer to a question, you probably have a preconceived idea of the answer. Dont let this preconception influence the data you record! If you see a data point that looks off, dont throw it out, no matter how strong the temptation. If you are aware of some unusual event that occurred when the data was being taken, feel free to make a note of it, but dont discard the data. Repeat the Experiment To determine the level at which you taste salt in water, you can keep adding salt to water until you have a detectable level, record the value, and move on. However, that single data point will have very little scientific significance. It is necessary to repeat the experiment, perhaps several times, to achieve significant value. Keep notes on the conditions surrounding a duplication of an experiment. If you duplicate the salt experiment, perhaps you would get different results if you kept tasting salt solutions over and over than if you performed the test once a day over a span of several days. If your data takes the form of a survey, multiple data points might consist of many responses to the survey. If the same survey is resubmitted to the same group of people in a short time span, would their answers change? Would it matter if the same survey was given to a different, yet seemingly, a  similar group of people? Think about questions like this and take care in repeating a project.

Use of Authentic Materials in Teaching Listening Advantages and Disadvantages

Use of Authentic Materials in Teaching Listening Advantages and Disadvantages Introduction Listening can be viewed as one of the most important skills that need to be acquired by learners in any language. It is one of the four skills that language learners acquire, and out of the four, it is one of the skills that are most frequently used by the individuals.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Use of Authentic Materials in Teaching Listening: Advantages and Disadvantages specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Most instructors teach listening and speaking simultaneously. However, it is noted that beginners in any language, and specifically those that are considered to be non-literate, need to be exposed to more listening than speaking processes, again making listening a vital part of learning any language (Bygate 2001). Rost (2002b) is of the view that instructors use many types of techniques and activities as they teach listening. These activities are more often than not informed by the needs and traits of their students. There are those activities where the learner is expected to produce a language and others where this production is not necessary. For example, a learner may be expected to physically react to commands that are given by the instructors (Rost 2002a). This is for example commands such as â€Å"please come here†. Just like there are many techniques that are used by the instructor in the teaching of listening skills, there are many forms of materials that the instructor can use to instil these skills on their learners. These materials are divided into two major categories; authentic and non-authentic materials (Hughes 2002). The latter are also referred to as scripted materials, given the fact that they are edited and specially prepared for the classroom. Debate has emerged as to the advantages and disadvantages of using authentic materials in teaching listening. There are those who argue that use of authentic materials in teaching listening is more beneficial both to the learners and to the instructors as compared to the use of scripted materials. On the extreme end of the continuum are those who argue that it is more beneficial to use scripted materials in teaching listening skills than to use authentic materials. Each of these schools of thought has justifications that they use to support their arguments.Advertising Looking for essay on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More This paper is going to look at the benefits and disadvantages of using authentic materials in teaching listening. The author is first going to look at the various definitions of authentic materials and the various sources of the same. The author will then look at the advantages of using these materials as compared to using scripted materials. The disadvantages of these materials will then be addressed, and these will mainly be the limitations that the instructors face as they incorporate these materials in their classrooms. Use of Authentic Materials in Teaching Listening: Benefits and Disadvantages Authenticity in the context of teaching has been defined variously. The various definitions depend on the philosophical orientations of the different scholars in this field. However, a common thread appears between these definitions, a thread depicted by the central theme of the definitions. A definition by Martinez (2002) is widely accepted in this field, and it is the one that is going to be adopted in this paper. Martinez (2002) conceptualizes authenticity in linguistics as a form of real language emanating from a real speaker or writer, language that targets a real audience. The language is also designed or structured in such a way that it conveys a real message of some nature (Tamo 2009). From this definition, it is easier for one to define authentic materials in the teaching of listening skills. Authentic texts, according to Yingmai (2005), are those written or spoken t exts that are targeted at native speakers of a given language. This is for example a conversation in English. This conversation can only be comprehended by English speakers, and the source of the conversation was targeting these speakers. As such, authentic texts are not specifically designed for the learners of the language in question, and this is one of the factors that set them apart from scripted texts. Whereas scripted texts are designed for the specific consumption of the learners of the language, authentic texts are designed for the native speakers of that language (Thanajaro 2000). Deriving from the discourse above, it is obvious that for a text to be considered as been authentic it must meet one major criteria; it should not have produced specifically for the aims of teaching a language (Thanajaro 2000).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Use of Authentic Materials in Teaching Listening: Advantages and Disadvantages specifically for you for only $1 6.05 $11/page Learn More For example, a radio interview between a celebrity and a presenter is not aimed at teaching the English language, but targeted at English speakers. However, this interview can be used to teach listening skills to a class of English learners. Riding on the definitions of authenticity that have been provided above, it is now possible to conceptualize the meaning of authentic materials in teaching listening. According to Ur (2005), these are elements of real language that are produced for the native speaker of the language and which are designed devoid of the intention of teaching the language to learners. When viewed from this pedestal, it becomes obvious that we are surrounded by a large amount of authentic materials, materials that we interact with in our daily life. This is for example the articles in newspapers and other print media, electronic broadcasts such as TV and internet productions and conversations between individuals in the socie ty, conversations that occur on a daily basis. These authentic materials can be used to teach listening skills within a classroom setting. For example, the instructor may make the learners listen to radio broadcasts and then act on the conversations between different individuals. As earlier indicated in this paper, this form of teaching listening skills has its advantages and disadvantages. These will be looked into in detail below: Advantages of Using Authentic Materials in Teaching Listening Scholars in this field agree that using these materials in teaching listening skills is beneficial to the learners, to the teachers and to the language in general as far as some aspects are concerned. This is regardless of whether the learners are foreign language speakers learning the language as their second or foreign language, or native speakers who are advancing their skills in the language. The benefits of these materials also extends to the advanced and beginners in the language. The fo llowing are some of the advantages:Advertising Looking for essay on linguistics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Learners are Exposed to Real Language Lingzhu and Yuanyuan (2010) concur that unlike scripted materials, authentic listening materials expose the learners to the real language. This is the language that is used in daily and real life of people who speak the language, or the natives. Lingzhu and Yuanyuan (2010) expound on this point by taking a look at the different features of the authentic and scripted listening materials that are used in the classroom setting. The different features can be condensed into four aspects of the two materials. These are as follows: Varying Redundant Features In authentic listening materials, the speakers more often than not use more words than necessary to convey their message (Luoma 2004). This is something that does not happen in scripted listening materials. According to Ur (2005), this is the redundant nature of authentic materials. Redundancy in authentic materials such as conversation can take various forms. This is for example repetition of phra ses and words, re-phrasing, tautologies among others (Lingzhu and Yuanyuan 2010). This is for example use of phrases that can be taken as meaningless, phrases such as umh, err, I mean and such others (Lingzhu and Yuanyuan 2010). Many scripted materials lack these features, despite the fact that they are common occurrences in daily conversations and interactions. As such, when the instructor uses authentic materials, the learners are exposed to this feature which is a reality of the language. Varying Grammatical Features It is a fact beyond doubt that differences exist between the authentic and scripted materials as far as their grammar is concerned. This is basically the variation between spoken and written language (Salehzaden 2006). For example, spoken language contains few subordinate clauses. Speakers also use incomplete sentences, an attribute that is uncommon in scripted materials (Lingzhu and Yuanyuan 2010). The vocabulary that is produced by speakers is less specific as comp ared to that of writers, and speakers tend to use interactive expressions such as mmh more than in written language (Lynch 2004). When the learners make use of authentic listening materials in their learning of listening skills, they are exposed to these features, and are thus able to adapt to the real language where they are used more easily. Varying Stylistic Features Authentic listening materials such as interviews and conversations are different from the scripted materials as far as their stylistic features are concerned. For example, they are more characterised by natural and spontaneous language that varies from one speaker to the other and from one dialect to the other (Lingzhu and Yuanyuan 2010). Authentic listening materials contain a lot of informal words, idioms and slangs that are not to be found in the scripted materials. It is important to expose the learners to these aspects of the real language to prepare them for the real world out there. Varying Environmental Featu res The environmental features of the authentic and the scripted listening materials also do vary. For example, authentic materials are characterised by a lot of background noise, which is filtered and more often than not eliminated in scripted materials (Flowerdew and Miller 2005). Ur (2005) and Anderson (2004) are of the view that noise is usually caused by interference which may be internal or external to the listener, interference that affects the listening and comprehension of the spoken language. Internal noise may be for example lack of attention on the part of the listener or the inability to comprehend the words spoken. External noise may be for example when a phrase is misused or misplaced by the speaker making it hard for the listener to comprehend (Boxer and Cohen 2004). Incorrect intonations and mispronunciations by the speaker may also be sources of external disturbance for the listener. As such, authentic materials expose the learner to this feature of the real world. Learners’ Motivation is Stimulated by the use of Authentic Listening Materials Research by scholars in this field have revealed that the use of authentic materials in teaching listening is more appealing to the learners as compared to the use of scripted materials (Wilson 2004). As earlier indicated, sources of authentic listening materials include newspapers, the internet and such other electronic media. These forms of media are mainly part and parcel of the popular culture in the society. This is given the fact that they carry materials that embodies popular culture in the society. This is for example interviews with celebrities, interviews that are contained in websites and on fashion magazines. These materials tend to be more appealing to the contemporary learner, especially for the youthful learners. As such, the materials are more effective in teaching these students. The authentic materials also tend to have content that is more current and as such relevant to the stu dents (Berardo 2006). For example, newspapers and television broadcasts contain more recent information than books that were written years ago. Internet articles are also updated regularly. As such, the gap between the students and the social reality in the world is bridged by authentic listening materials (Hwang 2005). The students therefore find these materials to be more interesting to interact with, and their experiences in this interaction are enriched. This enables them to acquire the listening skills easily and faster. Wang (2000) is of the view that learners who constantly receive the authentic listening input are better placed than their counterparts who receive scripted inputs. This is given the fact that the former will find it easier to communicate and interact with the native speakers of the language that they are learning in real life situations (Hwang 2005). This is as opposed to those students who make use of scripted listening materials, which are more often than no t out of touch with the reality. The true listening ability of the learners using the authentic listening materials is fully developed than that of those using scripted materials. This is given that the latter have to make adjustments between what they learn in class and what they encounter out there in the real world. Accumulation of the Learner’s Knowledge Rost (2002a) and Rost (2002b) contend that authentic listening materials have a wide range of information than the edited and scripted materials used for teaching listening such as books. The information contained therein covers many fields of the real world and of the human life. These topics range from popular culture such as music and films to more mundane topics such as geography and politics. As such, when the instructor makes use of these materials in teaching their students learning skills, they end up equipping their charges with more than just the ability to listen. This is an opportunity for the learners to accu mulate their knowledge on the world that they live in, the world outside the four walls of their classroom (Lingzhu and Yuanyuan 2010). Contrast this with the scripted materials like textbooks. These materials contain information that is limited to the listening needs of the students. Reflection of the Changes in the World As indicated earlier in this paper, authentic listening materials have contents that are regularly updated and as such reflect the reality of the social world. This content in extension reflects the changes that are taking place in the social world, the world within which the learners live (Yingmai 2005). It is erroneous to assume that the world within which we live is a static phenomenon. To the contrary, the social world is fluid in nature, with changes taking place in time and space. For example, the language that was used by the older generation in their teens has drastically changed, and the contemporary teenager speaks in a language full of slangs and idioms that are so unlike those used by their elders. Authentic listening materials reflect these changes in language and other attribute of the social world. As such, use of these materials has the advantage of keeping the students abreast of what is happening in the real world (Martinez 2002). Disadvantages of Using Authentic Materials to Teach Listening The advantages of using authentic materials in teaching listening are not without riding limitations and disadvantages that sometimes make it inappropriate to use them in the classroom. Some of these disadvantages are elaborated on below: Cultural Bias The materials, as much as they reflect the social reality of the world within which the learners exist, may be too culturally biased as to make no sense at all to the learners (Martinez 2002). This is especially so if the materials are used in their raw form with no editing or support to adapt them to the classroom environment. As such, the content of the materials may not make sense outs ide the culture within which the native speakers of the language exist. This attribute of the materials makes it very hard for learners of the language, especially those that are learning a foreign language, to benefit from the content of the authentic materials. For example, an interview with a pop idol in the United States of America may not make sense to a Russian learning the English language. This is given the fact that the content of the interview may be biased to the American culture, with the Russian been unable to connect with it. Similarly, the same interview with a teen idol may not make sense to an octogenarian in the United States of America who is working on advancing her English language. Difficulty of the Language It has been noted that authentic materials are rarely edited to accommodate the different needs and competence of different learners. This is given the fact that such editing may interfere with the authenticity of the material (Tamo 2009). As such, sometime s the language used in the materials may too hard to be comprehended by learners, especially those at elementary levels. The language of the materials may too complex for these learners. Take for example an interview with a market analyst, who keeps using jargon to refer to practices in their field. As much as this interview exposes the learners to the reality of the marketing field, the complex language may hamper the development of their listening skills (Beare 2011). Increased Learning Burden It is noted that some content of the authentic listening materials may be irrelevant to the learners (Berardo 2006). This increases the learning burden of the learners unnecessarily. Some words and phrases that are to be found in these materials are rarely used outside the context of the materials. For example, phrases and words that are used in a conversation between two music producers may not be used outside the context of the entertainment industry. This is especially so if the conversat ion is full of jargon and technical terms that apply only to the field. Lingzhu and Yuanyuan (2010) contend that some of the items in authentic materials such as vocabulary and phrases occur in low frequency in the real world. They may also be peripherally used in the real world, and the student may not come into contact with them again in the future (Ur 2005). As such, the significance of learning such items is lost to the student and to the instructor. This is especially so if the materials used contain a significantly large number of such items. Unavailability of the Materials There are instances where it is hard for the instructors and the learners to access authentic materials to use in the classroom. This is for example when the learners are engaged in learning a foreign language. Given that the language is foreign to the land and to the learning environment, coming into contact with such materials may be hard (Martinez 2002). For example, the instructor may find it hard to ac cess newspaper articles that are reported with the language that they are engaged in. The process of acquiring the authentic listening materials in such situations may be costly and time consuming both to the learners and to the instructors (Ur 2005). This makes the use of authentic listening materials in teaching an unattractive alternative to the learners and the teachers, as it is more costly than the use of script materials such as books. Conclusion The use of authentic listening materials in teaching listening has been embraced by many instructors and learners in contemporary society. This is given the many advantages that this form of learning has over the use of scripted materials. For example, the materials expose the learner to the real world, they reflect the changes in the world and they are more relevant to the learners. However, there are several disadvantages that make the use of this technique unattractive. This includes the irrelevancy of some of the items in the mat erials and the exorbitant costs that are incurred in accessing these materials by the learners and the instructors in some cases. However, when all the factors are considered, it appears that the use of authentic materials in teaching listening is more beneficial than it is costly. References Anderson, K 2004, Study Speaking, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Beare, K 2011, Appropriate Classroom Materials. [online]. Available from: http://esl.about.com/od/esleflteachertraining/a/t_approp.htm . Berardo, S A 2006, The Use of Authentic Materials in the Teaching of Reading, The Reading Matrix, 6(2): 23-27. Boxer, D and Cohen, A 2004, Studying Speaking to Inform Second Language learning, New York: Clevedon. Bygate, M 2001, Speaking, Oxford: Oxford University Press. Flowerdew, J and Miller, L 2005, Second Language Listening: Theory and Practice, London: London University Press. Hughes, R 2002, Teaching and Researching Speaking, London: London University Press. Hwang, C C 2005, Effect ive EFL Education through Popular Authentic Materials, Asian EFL Journal, 7(1), 7-11. Lingzhu, J and Yuanyuan, Z 2010, The Use of Authentic Materials in Teaching EFL Listening, Humanising Language Teaching, 12(4): 1290-1299. Luoma, S 2004, Assessing Speaking, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Lynch, T 2004, Study Listening, Michigan: CUP. Martinez, A G 2002, Authentic Materials: An Overview. [online]. Available from: http://www3.telus.net/linguisticsissues/authenticmaterials.html . Rost, M 2002a, Teaching and Researching Listening, New York: Pearson. Rost, M 2002b, Listening in Language Learning, New York: Longman. Salehzaden, J 2006, Academic Listening Strategies: A Guide to Understanding Lectures, New York: Free Press. Tamo, D 2009, The Use of Authentic Materials in Classrooms. [online]. Available from: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:CXX8xzTuuFYJ:www.lcpj.pro/skedaret/1277547736-74_pdfsam_LCPJ,%2520Per%2520shtyp.pdf+teaching+listening+using+authentic+materials%2Bdi sadvantageshl=engl=kepid=blsrcid=ADGEEShq0r-xrnzkzZaZdAcwgTWOB6JhdJwh-frcS9CetVUlkm0LC13YY9W7UIPQIVIjDOO6roC2Aj202Cxn-wogB6nZWKeyPuj5Q9qonw4BTRmybiNDDWRZCCY1NDZhqtU21E_DDJF-sig=AHIEtbQa_GO31xcOTcCCEs5ltcqrgtBsXg . Thanajaro, M 2000, Using Authentic Materials to Develop Listening Comprehension in the English as a Second Language Classroom. [online]. Available from: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=vq=cache:zBI58TPdtioJ:202.28.199.34/multim/9974216.pdf+teaching+listening+using+authentic+materialshl=engl=kepid=blsrcid=ADGEESgHGrWX_oROwV6uj9PWwywRjUKubEdpcefZ09p8WiycxMtBMyVqxVDlzc3K4yiUhxnuC0-MXDFycepIvTBmplcfxWjZilJCH6sS4EzEh1m9TwmxbTekYllkFsYj64hpPJlaL817sig=AHIEtbT2mBXLdbsi3_95PVp7TT6_Oo1uNA . Ur, P 2005, Teaching Listening Comprehension, New York: Cambridge University Press. Wang, Q 2000, English Teaching Methodology, Beijing: Beijing Higher Education Press. Wilson, R 2004, Supporting Speaking and Listening, London: London University Press. Yingmai, M 2005, Authentic Materials in th e Course of Interpretation, US-China Foreign Language, 3(11), 69-73.

Event analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Event analysis - Essay Example However, one evening the warehouses and storage manager forgot to switch-on the refrigerating system before installing fruits and vegetables which lead to spoilage. One possible solution to the problem is through the context of change management. Management change is currently one of major domains of organisational research, and the study of organisational change has become one of the major aspects in being able and helping to measure the organisation performance; efficiency and effectiveness. It is important to understand the extent to which formal changes in management systems and role prescriptions have resulted in change in work behaviour and job satisfaction experienced by personnel (Manser, 2004). It is thus essential, when attempting to assess the impact of formally espoused changes within an organisation, to examine the extent to which, and the way in which, managers have adapted new forms of work behaviour in accordance with the new managerial role perceptions. According to Waters (1996) ever since people started to work together to reach a common goal, operations management has been an important ingredient, but since the industrial revolution, it has grown most rapidly. Operations management is the tool behind the technical improvements that makes production efficient. It is the way to plan and organize how the technology and machinery will be utilized the most. The productivity in an organization depends on both the right technology and the right way to manage it (Waters, 1996). However, TQM can be a success or failure depending on how well it is planned, implemented, measured, and encouraged. Few would disagree that continuous improvement offers substantial benefits for manufacturers (McNamara, 1999). As a basic tenet of TQM, continuous improvement can enable manufacturers to meet the competitive pressures of the global economy head-on, and to develop strategies for

Company Introduction, Market Segmentation, and Product Positioning Research Paper

Company Introduction, Market Segmentation, and Product Positioning - Research Paper Example Express Vending LLC is a privately-held company in Florida that has a head office and a small warehouse in the area of North Miami Beach in Florida. There are four investors of the company i.e. Jessica Smith, Jones Patrick, Margaret Florence and Michelle D’Souza. Jessica Smith and Jones Patrick are the co-founders who have both an experience in the vending machine industry and have the expertise in running an entrepreneurial business. Margaret Florence has proficiency in the financial industry as she has worked for two well-known financial institutions in the last ten years and Michelle D’Souza will bring her marketing, operational and management skills to the company for ensuring that the business operations are smooth and effective. Once Express Vending LLC is successful in its local market, it will expand into the European market as it is vast and has a lot of opportunities for growth. Currently, the European market has a limited number of companies who are offering their customers reasonably priced machines and equipment for their restaurants; hence, the company will target those customers who are looking for innovative and top quality vending machines and equipment for the food and beverage at prices that are affordable by them. â€Å"The mission of Express Vending LLC is to be the dominant company in both the vending machine and the restaurant equipment industries by providing easy access to a wide range of unique, high quality and innovative products at reasonable prices. We believe that we will be successful in meeting the needs of our customers by developing close contacts with them so that we have cordial relations with them. Express Vending LLC will earn adequate stream of profits from its operations so that stability can be sustained and even finance the future growth avenues. We will ensure that all our business operations are conducted in an ethical

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Essay Example for Free

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Essay This fiction book takes you on the adventures of the twelve year old Percy Jackson as he discovers who he really is. Being a demigod, a child of a Greek god and a mortal woman, Percy is in for the ride of his life. Percy Jackson is not what you would consider to be normal; aside from having ADHD and dyslexia strange things just seem to happen to him and no one seems to understand. His last epidemic was while on a field trip to a local art museum in New York his pre-algebra teacher, Mrs. Dodd, attacked him revealing that she was one of three Furies; he ended up getting expelled making this the sixth boarding school to kick him out. Now up until recently he believed the legends he heard in his Latin class about the Greek gods were just stories but lately he has started to reconsider. Scared and confused he is sent back to his mom, Sally Jackson, and his step-father, Gabe. Gabe has always hated Percy and to be completely honest Percy looks at him as a lazy, drunk, gabling mess that has no respect for anyone but himself, but Percy’s mom lets Gabe mistreat her saying, â€Å"he provides for the family Percy its fine. Sensing the confusion and even anger in Percy’s countenance Sally decides to take him to Long- Island for a three day vacation. The cabin they stay in holds so many memories about Percy’s father that he asks questions about him even though he already knows the answer. Sally answers†¦.. Cautiously because if Percy found out his father was a Greek god he would become a very big target and for Percy’s safety she keeps her answers vague. Sally can sense Percy isn’t telling her what really happened at school but she doesn’t pry she just keeps saying if you want to talk I’m here. After a long day Sally and Percy find their way to bed. Percy, just lying there unable to sleep, starts to wonder what his dad was like, what his best friend Grover is doing, and if he didn’t have such a terrible step-dad his life would be so much easier. And just when he started to slip off into unconsciousness he heard a very loud banging at the door. Both Sally and Percy awoke with a start; who could be at the door in the dead of night? Sally ran to the door to find Grover Underwood, Percy’s best friend from Yancy Academy, standing in the rain with a look of fear in his face. At first Percy is ecstatic to see him but soon he realizes that something is very wrong. Grover is a satyr and is very in tune with the Greek god world unlike Percy and was sent to protect Percy. Grover came to warn Sally that the Furies were after Percy and that they had to get Percy to Camp Half-Blood as soon as possible. Sally pushes the boys to the car and drives as fast as she can. Percy having no idea what is going on and so Grover explains where they are going. He says Camp Half- Blood is a camp for kids that are demigods so they can train and be protected from the monsters of the underworld. Then as they approach the camp something smashes their car sending them flying through the air the boys and Sally start running for the trees, where just beyond the tree line lays the camp. As the start up the hill a minotaur grabs Sally and squeezes her into a fine gold powder. Distraught Percy charges the minotaur and heads up breaking one of the horns off and the minotaur runs off into the woods; while the boys narrowly escape to the camp. With Percy knowing so little about his dad he does not know who his father is and stays in the Hermes Cabin, under Luke Castellan. The kids seem nice but Percy really doesn’t understand what he is in for. One night they are playing a game of capture the flag when Percy gets wounded. As he is stumbling around he steps in the stream and is instantly healed and green tridents appear above his head, revealing he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. This would be a bad thing if the gods hadn’t made an oath to stop having children; but the camp cheered and congratulated Percy on this discovery. Now that the camp knew who Percy’s father was they could better explain who he was and what he was capable of doing. After training for the entire summer Chiron, Percy’s mentor suggested that Percy should be granted a quest. Percy accepted and chose Grover and Annabeth, a friend he made at camp, to take the journey with him. The quest required the kids to find the entrance to the Underworld, find Zeus’s master bolt and return it before the summer Solstice. The kids encountered monsters, other gods, and the Furies all which seemed to be no challenge for this group of kids which became the best of friends. Now I’m not going to tell you the ending of this book because you can read it for yourself but it’s amazing how three unlikely eople can come together to achieve great things. This book was very exciting once I started reading it, I could not put it down. This book obviously is fiction and is kind of contradictory to Christian beliefs as in more than one God so I wouldn’t recommend the book because of that; but if you can keep in mind that it is just a story it is a extremely exciting book .

Dale Earnhardt Essay -- Biography Biographies Bio

Dale Earnhardt grew up in automotive racing. Ever since he was a kid that is what his family did, and now his family carries on that legacy. Dale Earnhardt grew up in Kannapolis, North Carolina, a textile mill town. His father, Ralph Earnhardt, was known as "Iron heart" on the short-track racing circuit, and he taught Dale how to drive stock cars and work with engines. His father had converted a barn behind the family home into a garage, and he was well known for his skill with engines. Earnhardt's earliest memory is of watching his father race. Dale dropped out of high school after the eighth grade because he tried ninth grade twice and just couldn't do it. After he dropped out, Dale worked odd jobs, drove dirt tracks, and also argued with his father, which wanted him to complete high school. Dale became most famous with his black Monte Carlo with a dominate # 3 in white on it, but his first dirt track car was a 1956 hot-pink ford Sedan, which his neighbors gave to him, David and Ray Oliver. His father Ralph had built the engine, and some other friends, Frank and Wayne Dayvault and their cousin Gregg, tuned it. They int ended to paint the car avocado green, but a paint mishap resulted in the car being pink. They could not afford to repaint it, and Dale raced the pink car on dirt tracks around Charlotte, North Carolina. Dale married for the first time at 17, and at age 18 had a son, Kerry. Dale divorced his first wife at 19 and married a second time to Brenda. This marriage would last five years before he divorced again. Dale had two children with his second wife, a daughter, Kelley, and a son, Dale Jr., who would both followed him into racing. While Dale was at the age of twenty two his father died from a heart attack. Earn... ...nto the steering column of the car. Dale's legions of fans mourned his loss deeply, creating shrines and memorials all over the country, particularly in his hometown of Mooresville. Bechtel quoted long-time friend H.A. Wheeler, who said, "Here's a kid who came from the bottom, worked hard for everything he got and didn't have any airs about him . . .. Truck drivers, dockworkers, welders and shrimp-boat captains loved that. He was everything they dreamed about being." I believe that Dale Earnhardt was the greatest stock car driver there was and ever will be. He was down to earth and didn't let money or fame stop him from connecting with his fans. Dale has done many great things with his life, and also great things with the community and the people that followed him thought his racing career. Dale was a role model to many and other drivers looked up, and respected him.

Classic Pen Co. Case

Classic Pen Co. Case In the past Classic Pen Company had been the low-cost producer of black and blue pens and had profit margins over 20% of sales. Over the last five years Pen Co. decided to start producing red and purple pens. They require the same basic production technology but can be sold at 3% and 10% premium selling prices. Sales Manager Dennis Selmor is just seeing the financial results and is not happy with the numbers. The first issue that Pen Co. is facing is their decline in profitability. Even though the numbers show the red and purple pens are more profitable individually (red 14. %, purple 18. 2%), the overall return on sales is declining (13. 5%). A second issue that Pen Co. has is the issue of addition of resource costs. It requires a substantial amount of time for physical changeover of production from one colour pen to another. Particularly changing from another colour to red. The final issue Pen Co. faces is the increase of costs related to scheduling and purchas ing activities. Most of the indirect labour costs and computer system costs are related to scheduling and purchasing.Pen Company’s declining profitability could be based on the amount of the company’s overhead. They have determined overhead to be 300% of direct labour costs, when previously the overhead cost was only 200%. The make-up of this overhead is indirect labour, fringe benefits, computer systems, machinery, maintenance, and energy. The reason for such a large increase in overhead is because of the higher demand for indirect costs due to the addition of more complex and specialized products. While the cost for direct labour per one unit is the same for each colour of pen produced.The cost for indirect labour is made up of three different activities: 50% for handling production runs ($10,000), 40% for physical changeover or set up costs ($8,000), and 10% for maintaining records or parts administration ($2,000). The cost for computer systems is made up of two act ivities: 80% for production run activities ($8,000), and 20% for record keeping or parts administration ($2,000). Finally the remaining indirect costs are the machinery ($8,000), maintenance ($4,000), and energy ($2,000).These are all used to supply the machine with the capacity to produce the pens with a total of $14,000. Overall Classic Pen Co. must improve upon several areas of demand in order to increase its profitability similar to what it had been in the past. They need to increase their planning and try to adjust their current planning system and organizing. They could invest in more computers to increase the amount of scheduling being done by computers and as a result lower their indirect labour costs.Finally I recommend they should invest in some more machines to produce the different colour pens in. This would have a high cost of capital but would eventually save the company money in the labour cost and time required for the physical changeover between colours Calculation Page Indirect LabourMachine Support Handling Production Runs = 10,000Machinery = 8,000 Set Up = 8,000Maintenance = 4,000 Parts Administration = 2,000Energy = 2,000 Fringe Indirect Labour = 8,000Total = 14,000 Computer SupportFringe for Direct LabourHandling Production Runs = 8,000Fringe = 8,000 Parts Administration = 2,000 Total Overhead = 60,000 Calculating Activity Rate Activities| Activity Cost| Cost Driver #| Calculation| Activity Rate| 1) Handling PR| 22,000| 150| 22,000/150| 146. 67 / Run| 2) Set Up| 12,000| 526| 12,000/526| 22. 81 / Hour| 3) Parts Admin. | 4,000| 4| 4,000/4| 1000 / Product| 4) Machine Support| 14,000| 10,000| 14,000/10,000| 1. 4 / Hour| 5) Fringe DL| 8,000| 20,000| 8,000/20,000| 0. 4 / DL Cost| Total| 60,000| | | |

Houston Police Internship Essay

1. While at my hpd internship I was asked to do multiple task such as deliver mail, send out packages, organize and file documents according to date and time, conduct background check, record information, conduct surveillance handling evidence, helping organize various events, file case files, fax subpoenas, and seizures My internship Daily duties mostly consisted of helping the agents and working in the mail room. I learned how to handle different responsibilities such as delivering mail and sending out packages. In the mail room I also learned how to file open cases and how they disposes of closed case files from previous years that are no longer needed. Also I helped reorganized the current files to make space for upcoming future case files. Sometimes my duties were to conduct background checks. I was given the task to locate the most recent information on subjects to whom which agents are doing research on. There was certain type of information that the agents wanted me to record so that it would help them further there investigation. At times I would help agents put subpoenas together for certain cases. They would then enter the subpoenas into the computer so that they could be on file. Once the information was entered into the computer I then proceeded to fax each separate subpoena to its destination. Faxing the subpoena is just the same as if the officer was serving it personally. Once faxed and confirmed the subpoena then becomes official. Once I was done faxing the subpoenas I then had to confirm the date and time and record it so that it can become on file for future reference. 2. While at my intern I was asked to do multiple task such as deliver mail, organize and file documents according to date and time, conduct background checks and record information, conduct surveillance and note any suspicious activity. These are task I did on a daily bases. 3. All tasks I was asked to do I completed because my intern was from 9:00am-5:30pm which gave me plenty of time to finish task and begin new ones. Each day I arrived to work I would wait for which ever group I would be working in that particular day to assign me a task. Usually it would be something simple that wouldn’t take much time. I would be done with most tasks by lunch time. 4. I feel I left my intern with an extremely good reputation. I know that it will help me when I begin to apply for multiple agencies. Everybody within hpd was very appreciative of the help I provide and noted that if I needed any referrals in the future to contact them. 5. The one network source I developed at hpd whom was from my hometown. Prior to hpd he was a police officer (Birmingham, AL) and referred me to people whom he thought could help me get started on becoming a police officer. He said it was a great start for him and if I really wanted to start there he would use all his connections to get me a job so that I could begin gaining experience. 6. I learned a lot of things from having my Internship. I learned that it’s a great career to have but in order to be successful you have to put in a lot of time and dedication. I had the opportunity to sit down and talk to the hpd Recruiter. He provided me with a lot of great information on how to successfully become a police officer. He informed me on all the possible options I could take in order to reach my goal and gain experience. He mentioned such things such as joining the military, applying at a local police dept., and/or joining border patrol. He even mentioned that I should consider going back to school to obtain my Master’s Degree which would put my ahead of all the other hpd applicants. With the information he provided me I learned that there are many opportunities within the hpd. I feel with my hard work and determination I could reach my goal. 7. Honestly everything I did was educational. Nothing more could have been time to make my time there more educational. I was taught new things on a daily bases and learned things I feel can’t be taught at any college or university. I learned so many thing that most people would not been able to. I worked in an environment that so few are allowed to work in. I had the chance to to attend a meeting that was attended by officials from different agencies and organizations. This meeting was to introduce new procedures such as drug testing and prevention at work and school. Also being introduced at the meeting to the officials were various new drugs that were starting to become popular among kids and adults such as synthetic marijuana and bath salts. I also had the opportunity to attend the Tactical Training Exercise. This training exercise was also very educational. It was held at the Houston Police Dept. Training Headquarters. These are training exercises that that they go through on a monthly basis. They are showed different techniques on how to enter and clear rooms. Theses training exercises are done to keep the agents current with all the different types of situations they may encounter when entering a home during an operation. Today I had the opportunity to be able to view an operation conducted by local agencies. Once the location was safe and secure agents then were able to conduct their investigation. While the investigation was taking place be federal agents, local law enforcement conducted background checks on all individuals whom were inside the location doing the time of the search warrant. Once the agents finished their investigations and interviews they then loaded all evidence so that it could be processed. All the individuals inside were either release or arrested based on their background check. 9. My intern was a great experience and I cannot recall a day to where I did not want to be there. I was fortunate enough to obtain this internship and hope that I will benefit from in after I graduate. I wish in the near future that more students will have the same opportunity I’ve had so that they can also learn and educate themselves on the potentials of what having a career with the Houston Police Dept.

tradition vs modern essays

tradition vs modern essays The terms 'traditional ¡ and 'modern ¡ are so often used in conversation, and also in reference to Society, that it is a good exercise to consider what these terms do mean in a comparative light. Berman in All that is solid melts in air puts forward an interesting set of ideas in the comment that people who live in traditional ways, or in modern ones, can almost be said to occupy different states of mind. For instance, a full 500 years have passed since some peoples first met up with the influences of the more modern Western world. (1988, pp. 15-16) However, in many cases, the adjustment has still not been made, and the conflict of what is traditional and what is modern continues to occur with different impacts upon the individual, as well as the society in which he or she lives which is apt to reflect an ongoing conflict. For example, it could be said that what is lived in a remote western Chinese village differs very much from the experience that is given to human beings by life in New York City. It would be easy to state that the former was very 'backward ¡ or just very different from what is imparted by New York City, but obviously, this contrast cannot be made too neatly. The modern has arrived in mainland China, little by little, over centuries. On the other hand, what is modern or 'foreign ¡ has not been absorbed completely, and varies greatly from place to place in China. Furthermore, the systems under which modern influence did begin to arrive happened to be different from those which produced modernity in the West. In the traditional society of mainland China, western influence came only in a trickle for some time, only to coastal or other directly affected areas during the centuries of attempted European colonization of China, and afterwards, only according to what a Communist re gime has permitted to take root in the country. The dichotomy of convention also does not give much time to just what was introduc...

Definition of the Ability to Pay Principle

Definition of the Ability to Pay Principle Definition: The ability to pay principle is the widely held view that the amount of taxes someone pays should increase as their income increases. Terms related to The Ability to Pay Principle: Progressive Tax About.Com Resources on The Ability to Pay Principle: Should Income Tax Rates Depend on Lifetime Earnings?Are Sales Taxes More Regressive Than Income Taxes?Do Richer People Pay a Higher Proportion of Tax Under a Flat Tax? Writing a Term Paper? Here are a few starting points for research on The Ability to Pay Principle: Books on The Ability to Pay Principle: Federal Taxation - Basic Principles Journal Articles on The Ability to Pay Principle: Ability-to-Pay Taxation as Discriminatory Pricing of Government ServicesA Re-Examination of the Use of Ability to Pay Taxes by Local GovernmentsThe Welfare Cost of Capital Income Taxation

Research methods (inferential methods) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Research methods (inferential methods) - Essay Example It is possibly influenced by the intervening variable as well. Unit of Analysis: Whereas the independent variable is nominal and can only take the value of either Science or otherwise, the dependent variable is ordinal. This can be divided into a five point scale from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Since the response to this study and the assessment of the study is on individuals, this has to be looked at as individual cases. The dependent variable can become continuous while interpreting. Sampling: The sampling size can be a larger fraction of the population because the target population is smaller. Of the science graduates nearly 20% of them can be taken up as samples. Only then the results will also be dependable. The sampling has to be random within a stratification formed ideally of genders. Validity: The survey will be valid if the assumption is right. That is, to say, if the people are not travelling in public transport or do not walk down to the university, then they are lazy is right. Under this condition, the survey will hold good. However, this could be questioned by the intervening variable that has already been set. The above graph indicates the age distribution in the Bradford 041A area. The above graph indicates that the demographic shift is moving towards more of middle aged and older people in the Bradford 041A region. ... This shows that the terraced bungalows are the most common ones in the region. The above graph indicates the economic activity of the Bradford 041A region. This indicates there are a larger number of economically active people who are working full time and the self employed or enterpreneural spirit is in a few people comparitively which is even less than the unemployed. 3. Survey questions Survey 1: Sampling mobile opinion - postcard questionnaire survey The topic chosen for the survey is very interesting. The methodology has been designed very well. Generally post card surveys may not give the adequate response for a number of reasons that are beyond the control of the researcher. For instance, there could be a set of postcards that might have been responded well but may not have reached the researcher due to the vagaries of the postal system or might not been dropped in the post box due to negligence or forgetfulness. When we employ the FARCE system, F, A & R might be correct and well designed but the aspects of engaging and connecting (C & E) with the respondent is not there. Hence the level of accuracy is certainly less. The advantage with this system is that not much of time and energy is expended by the researcher. Survey 2: Conference survey of professionals - online survey With the advent of internet, this is one of the most popular surveys undertaken by researchers. The advantages are many: Firstly, the reach is far and wide and the survey can be completed in a few days time. Secondly the analytical part of the survey is also done immediately. This sort of a survey is a sophisticated form of the postcard survey. The only difference is that, in the 'FARCE' context, F, A, R & C is taken in to account and E may or may not be left out. E can

Not sure yet Scholarship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Not sure yet - Scholarship Essay Example I am very confident that this scholarship opportunity will offer me the right package to fulfill my dream. My career goals include balancing work with other personal activities, acquiring sufficient expertise in my field so that I may start my hospital, choosing a hobby I am passionate about, managing time properly, and saving enough money to enjoy a comfortable retirement. My greatest inspiration is the passion I have for the course. The second one is my good academic performance coupled with massive experiences gathered over time because I used to volunteer in childcare and adult centers. Coming from a low-income family, I lack enough cash flow to allow me support my college expenses. I need to work to support myself, the family and also to pay my college education. Financial hardships I am experiencing demand that I will work at least a day in a week to meet my necessities such as food, book and gas expenses, even if am awarded the scholarship. Even though I obtained a loan through financial aid, I still need financial assistance to enable me concentrate in order to keep my grades high. Coming from a family of four, coupled with the fact that my husband too has a low-income job, we have to contribute to meet family bills. My family is very supportive of my pursuit for education, and this too is one of my sources of motivation. Having to work to raise some income is a great challenge regarding my pursuit for education. My family has decided to forego entertainment and vacation for some time to save some money for my necessities. Despite many challenges, I still managed to achieve an excellent academic performance. I managed to attain a GPA of 3.45 in my last semester at school. I have also tried to save some money for my education. In addition, I took out a personal loan and still I am not able to cover this $40,000 program. I also got good grades are my high school. Money situations forced me to put my life on hold despite the high