Business-Ship to Ship Book Review - 4348 Words

It s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy Capt. D. Michael Abrashoff Warner Books, 2002 Author s Page Captain D. Michael Abrashoff is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and was a military assistant to the former secretary of defense, Dr. William J. Perry. He served as Commander of 310 men and women aboard the USS Benfold in the Pacific Fleet. Abrashoff left the Navy in 2001 and became the founder and CEO of Grassroots Leadership, Inc., in Boston. www.grassrootsleadership.com Other Books Get Your Ship Together, 2005 Ship Happens, Coming 2006 It s Your Ship Table of Contents Introduction 1 Ch.1 Take Command 11 Ch.2 Lead by Example 32 Ch.3 Listen†¦show more content†¦Take Command This chapter follows his first observations as Commander and the immediate actions he sought to implement. He notes that the crew seemed relieved by the departing Commander and realized that he must come up with a new leadership model to reach his crew. As he noted in the introduction that high percentage of turnover among crew bothered him and he notes some trends in society that contribute to this problem. The long economic boom had made most people unafraid of losing their jobs, or finding new ones. Thus he believed it manager s challenge to retain them by motivating them to work with passion, energy, and enthusiasm. (p.12) By reading over the exit surveys he assumed as many that low pay was a main reason for people leaving, but was shocked when it was in fact 5th. The top four are strikingly similar to the slide we studied in class on What Associates Want from Their Job in wanting appreciation, ability to make impact, n ot being listened to, and more responsibility. This helped him understand his crew better and try to see the ship through the eyes of the crew. (p.13) He encouraged his crew to challenge the way in which they carried out their jobs by asking, Is there a better way to do what you do? If so, then he wanted them to take the responsibility one their own to implement the change, unless it involved major implications. Abrashoff continues to give examples of instances where lowShow MoreRelatedLeadership Analysis Paper By Richard Miller1284 Words   |  6 Pagescommander of USS Benfold, which is a ship that is completely armed with every cutting-edge system available, but unfortunately, the ship was like a business that has all the latest technology but it lacked in productivity and teamwork. Knowing that that the responsibility for improving performance rested with him as the new USS Benfold’s Captain, Abrashoff realized that he had to improve his own leadership skills before he could improve the crew aboard the ship. Within months, Abrashoff created aRead MoreA New, Improved Way to Package Goods for Transport with Liner Shipping804 Words   |  4 Pagesmeans. Their growth influenced the efficiency of the whole supply chain. 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From there, they were able to produce a refined product called Kindle that has the ability to review and remember more what a person reads follow people of interest and allows one to see their Public notes and manage his books, highlights, and notes. Question 2 How do you describe the competitive risk in Amazon’s environment as Wal-Mart, Barnes and Noble, and other retailers strengthen their online offeringsRead MoreVideo Conferencing Service : Hotel Essay1563 Words   |  7 Pagesclose to business district. It is surrounded by a seafood restaurant and a lounge bar. Guests have access to Outdoor swimming pool and spa. †¢ Facilities: †¢ Conference rooms: This facility is for business people when they come for any deal or business purpose they all can sit in one place a lot of people can sit at a time. †¢ Business phone service: Covered the cost of the call control to provide a discounted rate off small and medium business and giveRead MoreSomalia: A Country in Need Essay1540 Words   |  7 Pagespiracy, governmental problems, and widespread health issues. For years, the pirates of Somalia have been the predator of the seas, hijacking ships and making millions of money every year. Piracy has become a major threat to both the Somalis and international ships that pass through the area. Armed, Somali pirates easily took over the crews and control of huge ships, holding them hostages until they received the money they demanded. A crew from Germany reported â€Å"[they were] under fire from pirates armedRead MoreFactors For Considering Air Freight Vs. Ocean Freight Essay1417 Words   |  6 Pages ARTICLE REVIEW By : Martha Yuhla SHEY SOURCE http://www.universalcargo.com/ : 4 FACTORS FOR CONSIDERING AIR FREIGHT VS. OCEAN FREIGHT. By Raymond Rau : Posted August 16, 2011 In Air Freight, International Shipping, ocean freight, shipping. http://www.universalcargo.com/4-factors-for-considering-air-freight-vs-ocean-freight/ INTRODUCTION This is a review of an article on ‘4 FACTORS FOR CONSIDERING AIR FREIGHT VS. OCEAN FREIGHT’. In the first place a summary of the article will be given, thenRead MoreBiography of Daniel Defoe1105 Words   |  4 Pages Daniel Defoe, though faced with many struggles as a writer, changed normal English literary styles of writing. Defoe wrote a novel, Robinson Crusoe and was the father of the English novel. As William Hazlitt put it, â€Å"Book making in the hands of a dull man is the worst and degrading of all drudgeries; in the hands of Daniel Defoe it changes character and becomes the noblest and most delightful of all possible occupations.† (7) Though many argue that Daniel Defoe was unable to fullyRead MoreThe Myth Of Robber Barons By Burton W. Folsom1141 Words   |  5 PagesAishwarya Nandini Jonathan M. Steplyk HIST 1312-012 19 October 2017 Book Review: The Myth of the Robber Barons by Burton W. Folsom The Myth of Robber Barons is a short, but excellent book that talks about the entrepreneurs of early America. It argues against the misconception that the successful businessmen of the 19th century, often called the â€Å"robber barons†, amassed a big fortune by robbing the general public, whereas, they became wealthy because they offered good quality products and services

The Salem Witch Trial Hysteria - 1196 Words

Xochitl Neri Erick Felix In 1692-1693, the Salem Witch Trial Hysteria occurred, resulting in 20 deaths out of the 200 accused of practicing the Devil’s magic, a practice that women were commonly accused of. Salem, Massachusetts, was a colony that consisted of Puritans, both Separatists and non Separatists alike. From the start, the Puritans believed that the Bible was true in all aspects: every word, every idea, every thought--was true. The Puritans also had minimal understanding of science, which led them to believe that phenomenon was an act of the Devil. Thus, when three young girls admitted to seeing demons and started behaving strangely, the Puritans grew progressively hysterical because they became more convinced that witches existed within Salem as they had little scientific knowledge. In a nutshell, the cause of the Salem Witch Trial Hysteria were Puritan fundamentalism, misogyny, and hysteria. The Puritans were a group of fundamentalist people. This meant that they led a life that was to be followed as God put in the bible..For instance, in Exodus 22:18 (Doc A.) it is stated, â€Å"‘Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live’†,in the eyes of the Puritans this simple phrase translates into this idea that witches exist and that they must then be eliminated because they caused the Puritan life to be stained and impure.. Although, the Bible does not state how to identify a witch, in the eye of the fundamentalist Puritan anyone could be a witch. This caused the Salem WitchShow MoreRelatedThe Hysteria Of The Salem Witch Trials1463 Words   |  6 PagesAmong these issues, is the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials that prosecuted women to be found worshippers of the devil. The Puritans found the necessity to exercise this crusade in order to stay by their moral codes of conformity which included witchcraft to be the greatest crime, punishable by death. However, the true reasons of the trials was not to simply follow their religious constitutions. It is mainly in part from corruption of religion and how some had used the trials as a form of personalRead MoreSalem Witch Hysteria And Trials1620 Words   |  7 PagesSalem Witch Hysteria and Trials Joshua Furman History 121: Early America to the Civil War Dr. Phillip Hamilton November 18, 2015  The Salem Witch Trial consisted of heinous accusations implicated by Cotton Mather which effected society as a hole and gave reasoning to the numerous amount of witch stories we hear today. Cotton Mather was the eldest son of Increase Mather, Massachusetts most influential and well known Puritan minister, and the grandson of John Cotton, Salem’s spiritualRead MoreSalem Witch Trials : The Witch Trial Hysteria920 Words   |  4 PagesSalem Witch Trial Hysteria In 1692 the actions of three girls quickly launched Salem onto the path of committing one of the largest witch hunts the New World has ever known. The witch hunt was fueled by a mass hysteria among the townspeople, this hysteria was the result of the strictness of their society and a number of internal and external stressors. The initial wave of panic when rumors of witchcraft arose gave way to compete hysteria when accusations began. Salem massachusetts was the perfectRead MoreThe Hysteria Of The Salem Witch Trials1366 Words   |  6 PagesWalter Kirn, an American novelist and literary critic, stated that ‘‘Everyone loves a witch hunt as long as it’s someone else’s witch being hunted.’’ (Web. Walter Kirn Quote) Although the Salem Witch Trials took place over 300 years ago, in 1692, and we claim that we have come a long way since then, the truth is we have not. The hysteria that took place during the witch trials occurred because people refused to take responsibility for their actions. The same thing is happening in modern day AmericaRead MoreThe Hysteria Of Salem Witch Trials Essay1753 Words   |  8 PagesIn 1692, a town in Massachusetts by the name of Salem Village found itself in one of the most well-known cases of mass hysteria. This saga started with three girls Elizabeth Parris, Abigail Williams, and Ann Putnam a neighborhood friend. Abigail Williams, the niece of the town’s minister, began to display weird and questionable behavior. The town’s physician William Greggs, was called to determine the cause of this sporadic behavior. The town’s physician determine that the three girls were underRead MoreThe Hysteria Of Salem Witch Trials871 Words   |  4 Pageswhat caused the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. This is a question that has been debated about for centuries. Some think that witchcraft was very much alive in Salem although others believe that the first girls who were accusing the witches were crazy and making up stories. In this paper I am going to prove to you my point which is: the hysteria about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 was due to a small lie or prank that went bad. The girls who started the Salem Witch Trials were just crazyRead MoreSalem Witch Trial Hysteria Essay818 Words   |  4 PagesTwenty people were put to death for witchcraft in Salem during the 1692 Salem Witch Trial Hysteria. In Th e Crucible, a woman, Elizabeth Proctor, gets accused of witchcraft by a young girl by the name Abigail Williams, who just so happens to be having an affair with Elizabeth’s husband, John. Once John finds out Abigail accused his wife, he starts trying to find proof that all of these young girls are pretending that they are being hurt by these older women, just so that they will be hanged. The officialsRead MoreThe Mass Hysteria Of Salem Witch Trials Essay2129 Words   |  9 PagesMassachusetts community called Salem. It ended less than a year later, but not before the hanging of 20 men and women, including an elderly man who was crushed to death. The hysteria spread quickly, involving the most educated men and prominent politicians in Salem. Aside from suffrage, the Salem witch trials represent the only moment when women played a central role in American history. There are many theories as to what caused the mass hysteria of the Salem witch trials and the bewitchment of se veralRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trial Hysteria Of 1692879 Words   |  4 PagesThe Salem Witch Trial hysteria of 1692 caused 20 people to be hung or pressed to death and 4 perished in jail. In addition, 200 people in Salem were accused of being witches. On June 10 of 1692, Bridget Bishop was charged with practicing witchcraft and she was also accused of bewitching her husband to death. The result of her not confessing was that she was hung to her death. All of this frenzy started in the house of Samuel Parris. His daughters were consumed by the bizarre tales told by their IndianRead MoreThe Salem Witch Trials : An Outbreak Of Hysteria1794 Words   |  8 PagesIn 1692, Salem village in Massachusetts saw an outbreak of hysteria, most commonly known today as the Salem witch trials. Over a period of several months, more than 200 people found themselves facing suspicions from those around them of witchcraft, with 19 executed, 14 arrested and many others who pleaded guilty pardoned but ma de social outcasts. Typically, the majority of those living in Salem were Puritans, who regarded all other activity excluding common Puritan practice as sinful distractions

Japanese Food

Question: Discuss about the Article for Japanese Food. Answer: Introduction: The article Japanese Food written with a combined effort by Ketty, Peter, Tim and Winnie, is related to the Japanese food culture and deals with the eating etiquette, food quality, cooking methods and taste as well. In the article, complete discussion has been made on the dishes of Japanese cuisine and comparison has been made with Chinese cuisines. Lot of discussions has been made on a variety of Japanese food. However, no such effort has been made to support the argument with any kind of primary sources. All the arguments have been made on the basis of proper research and continuous observation of the Japanese culture. Explanation and evaluation: Japanese etiquette: Japanese stands as the most educated and civilized person when it comes to eating etiquette. It has been found that being at a coastal region Japan is famous for sea foods. The sea food is consumed by rice. If the same thing is considered, it is evident that Chinese prefer noodles over rice (Kaneko, Oshida and Matsushima 2013). Japanese stands at the fore front when it comes to table manner. Japanese are very strict when it comes to table manners. Food is served in bowl and empting the bowl is considered to be good manners in the Japanese culture. They use the chopstick to eat their food. One of the Japanese etiquette include that the chopstick is never hold with five fingers as it is considered impolite in their culture (Ashkenazi and Jacob 2013). It also falls under their etiquette, not to leave the table immediately after the meal gets over. All these manners make Japanese to stand forth when it comes to food culture. Taste of food: If the taste of food is considered, it has been pointed out that Japanese food are non spicy and are light that are easy to digest. On the other hand, Chinese food are often greased and they dishes are mostly made of beef, chicken and pork while fish is common among the Chinese cuisine. Both Japanese and Chinese have varieties of items in their food menu. Starting from soups, they prefer having rice and noodles in their meal. Mainly they enjoy the rice and the noodles with certain sauce (Fieldhouse 2013). Use of vinegar, soya sauce and wasabi are common in Japanese food. However, it has to be mentioned in this respect that soya sauce is never poured in rice as it declines the taste of the particular dish. Most common dish of Japan is Sushi and other related dishes that are made with fish as a prime ingredient of their food (Anderson 2014). In this respect, it can be said that apart from the other cuisines of other countries, the cuisine of Japanese is different due to the use of sauc e and spices in their food. Cooking method: Japanese prefer boiled and less oily food whereas Chinese cuisines are often deep fried with lots of oil. Japanese use various types of spices and other liquids to simmer their food. Grilled foods are their favourite food and cuisines (Kunitomo et al. 2016). It has been observed that the Japanese spent a lot of time for preparing their food. They use charcoals and other things to cook their food, that is quite time consuming. This clearly shows the love and affinity of food that Japanese have. In this respect, it has to be mentioned that in case of the Chinese food, the dishes are prepared very fast and they are specialized in fast foods. They believe in filling the hunger rather can maintaining hygiene or quality of food (Cheung and Wu 2012). Conclusion: With the detailed discussion, it can be easily said that there is no doubt that the Japanese culture is much advanced in terms of its food and eating habits. The discussion ends with the note that there is no doubt that the culture or the cuisine of Japan is far advanced compared to the other cultures. There is no such relation with the Japanese and the Chinese culture but, in case if the Chinese wants to achieve any goals related to food and cuisine of the Japanese culture, they need to understand their culture thoroughly by good observation. For, such purpose, conducting primary research is indeed important. Reference list: Anderson, E.N., 2014.Everyone eats: Understanding food and culture. NYU Press. Ashkenazi, M. and Jacob, J., 2013.The essence of Japanese cuisine: an essay on food and culture. Routledge. Cheung, S. and Wu, D.Y. eds., 2012.Globalization of Chinese Food. Routledge. Fieldhouse, P., 2013.Food and nutrition: customs and culture. Springer. Kaneko, K., Oshida, K. and Matsushima, H. 2013. Traditional Food Culture (Local Cuisines, Japanese Sake) That Has Been Nurtured by the Rich Nature of the Prefecture, Japan. FNS, 04(09), pp.964-971. Kunitomo, M., Ekuni, D., Mizutani, S., Tomofuji, T., Irie, K., Azuma, T., Yamane, M., Kataoka, K., Taniguchi-Tabata, A., Mizuno, H. and Miyai, H., 2016. Association between Knowledge about Comprehensive Food Education and Increase in Dental Caries in Japanese University Students: A Prospective Cohort Study.Nutrients,8(3), p.114.

The Effect of Polygamy on the Modern Society

Introduction Polygamy remains one of the hotly contested and misunderstood topics in the modern society. The most common practice of polygamy is polygyny, whereby one man marries more than one spouse. Polygyny is common in many societies across the world. However, it is outlawed in the Western World. Cultural and religious factors anchor this practice.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Effect of Polygamy on the Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Different studies carried out for decades reveal that the practice has far-reaching negative consequences, and hence should be outlawed. On the other hand, the proponents of polygamy argue that there are many benefits associated with the practice. However, the moral question of polygamy has not been addressed adequately. This essay provides an in-depth discussion of polygamy with a view of establishing factors that contribute to the practice, its consequenc es, and morality issues. Polygamy is not morally correct due to societal effects Many studies about polygamy are structured on whether the practice should be recognized, banned, or punished through the law. Little has been written about the moral question on polygamous marriage. However, from a moral ground, polygamy is morally unacceptable due to its effects on societies. The first social effect of this practice is emanated from the perceived competition by co-wives. They give birth to as many children as they can, as a way of getting a larger share of the common resources that get shared by the family when it comes to inheritance (Tabi, Doster Cheney, 2010). Giving birth becomes a contest among these wives. Competition in the end produces effects that are injurious to the society. For instance, competition among wives for common resources is likely to culminate conflicts that largely affect society’s stability. Polygamous marriages are a burden to men and their wives. A ma n is deprived in mind and body due to the heavy responsibility of sustaining a big family. In addition, men dedicate most of their income on marrying new wives. Consequently, women are deprived psychologically as a result of being reduced to physical pleasure instruments. These results in child negligence in that, children are less supported and well maintained by their parents. Parents invest less time and money in the upkeep, education, as well as in provision of critical care for their children (Elbedour, Onwuegbuzie, Caridine Abu-Saad, 2002). In the end, the society bears the consequences of the problems associated with lack of education and proper parenting of children. One common consequence is substance abuse among children due to lack of parental guidance. The early substance abuse affects societies in terms of increased crime rate (Elbedour, Onwuegbuzie, Caridine, Abu-Saad, 2002).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More One of the impacts of polygamy that have not gotten the attention of many researchers is the scarcity of women. Polygyny denies young and low-status men women because the older wealthier men hoard many women as possible. This results to increased competition, denying young men opportunities to marry wives of their choice. For men to get these women, they have to gain resources considering the perception that wealth attracts women. Competition for women and resources increases criminal cases within societies (McLaren Coward, 1999). In the end, a society suffers from increased robbery, rape, murder, kidnapping, and assaults among others. Marriage provides a foundation upon which a society is built (Waller, 2011; McLaren Coward, 1999). Social relations, obligations, and duties are derived from marriage and society setups. These hold a society together as one unit. However, polygamy cultivates patriarchal principles that drag the whole soc iety into despotism. In addition, patriarchal principles destroy the societal fabric since it is more injurious to female and children (McLaren Coward, 1999). Polygyny disintegrates the social relations, duties, and obligation marriage in the society (Waller, 2011; McLaren Coward, 1999). This makes the society suffer from conflicts that arise due to erosion of societal relations within marriages. Polygamy in various parts of the world Polygamy is a common phenomenon across the world. It is allowed on the cultural and religious basis. Most of the African societies accept polygyny practices from a cultural point of view. On the other hand, the practice is common in Asia due to religious beliefs. However, to some degree, polygyny is practiced in North America and Europe, it is considered illegal (Duncan, 2008). Most of the African societies stretching practice polygamy. Marriages in these societies are characterized by one man getting married to more than one spouse (Moosa, Benjamin Jeenah, 2008). Traditional cultures and customs are behind the widespread practice of polygamy in the African societies. In addition, apart from polygamy being practiced as a result of customs and culture, the Jewish and Islamic beliefs also support polygamy in North Africa. This practice is perceived in African societies as a social practice that ensures family continuity from one generation to another (Moosa, Benjamin, Jeenah, 2008).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Effect of Polygamy on the Modern Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Women responsibility is reduced to child bearing and childless women are treated with contempt. Cultural practices such as wife inheritance largely contributed to polygyny in African society. Men have to remarry widows or women left without support after death of husbands or guardians. It also perceived as one way taking care of the orphans left behind after death of men . Polygamy is also very common in the Middle East, Asia, and Oceania. This is typically attributed to the Islamic religion, which is the most dominant religion in the Middle East. The Islamic culture permits man to get married to a maximum of four wives provided he is financially stable to support each wife and her children (Al-Krenawi, A., Slonim-Nevo, 2008). In addition, the societies of Middle East are value stability and family continuity. On top of this, the Arab society is patriarchal with segregated gender roles where a woman’s contribution is undervalued. Polygamy is illegal in the Western World. However, the practice is common to many societies in this region (Moosa, Benjamin Jeenah, 2008). For instance, there is a general consensus that polygyny is practiced in the United States despite being outlawed. Polygamy in North America is believed to emanate from Mormon fundamentalists. They believe they have to be true custodians of Joseph Smith’s belief that one man needs more than one woman to be exalted after death. In the year 2008, it was estimated that the states of Utah and Arizona have 37,000 polygamists despite the existence of anti-polygamy legislations and federal statutes (Duncan, 2008). Factors that contribute to societies adopting polygamy The fear of divorce, infertility, legal, and how women perceive polygamy, contribute to polygamy in many societies. According to Tabi, Doster, and Cheney (2010), the African women perception of polygyny contributes to them accepting the practice. Most of the African women perceive polygyny as beneficial because it guarantees shared responsibilities in performance of household chores, farm work, and rearing of children. Cultural beliefs have a huge impact on peoples’ attitude and perception. In this regard, attitudes created by cultures play a critical role in encouraging polygamy. For instance, in a study conducted by Awusabo-Asare and Anarfi (1997), most of the Ghanaian women accept c o-wives on post-partum abstinence basis. Women perceive polygyny positively. To them, it ensures their husbands continue with sexual activities, when one of the wives is still in the post-partum period.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Fertility also plays a critical role in promoting polygamy in some societies. For instance, in the sub-Saharan Africa, the failure of a woman to bear children can lead to divorce. Children are so important in the African context and women have to bear children to reaffirm their position in marriage, get accepted by husbands, and share wealth. According to them, children create a bond between wives and their husbands. Infertile women are thus forced to accept co-wives for fear of divorce (Tabi, Doster Cheney, 2010). This contributes to polygamous societies in many parts of the world. Attitudes towards unmarried women also play a critical role in encouraging polygamy. Single women eligible for marriage and divorced or separated women have low social status in polygamous communities. It is also considered as a shame on families and tribes, if one remains unmarried for unexplained reasons. The indignity that is associated with being unmarried women pushes them into a polygamous culture to escape shame and social pressure. Polygamy still occurs today in some nations due to the legal frameworks that recognize the practice. Some countries in Africa have promulgated laws that recognize cultural practices. For instance, in 2000, South Africa promulgated Customary Marriage Act that legalized polygamy in the country (Moosa, Benjamin Jeenah, 2008). Polygamy is now legally recognized through the Act, giving women equal rights in marriage. It is also vital to notice that though the Western Nations legally outlawed polygamy practices, they still tolerate it. According to Duncan (2008), in the United States, the federal and state legislation outlaws polygamy. However, minimal cases of polygamy have so far been pursued successfully. The law is ineffective and unable to clamp down the practice in the American society. There are several positive effects of legalizing polygamy Proponents of polygamy point out that the practice plays important roles in the society, and hence the need to be legalized. In addition, polygamy proponents argue that legal recognition of polygamy will allow fix the negative attributes attached to it. They also argue that the legalization of polygamy will help prosecute cases related to it effectively (Duncan, 2008). On the other hand, opponents of polygamy argue that the practice is out of place in the modern society due to its negative consequences on individuals, families, and society. Proponents of polygamy argue that governments should recognize polygamy as legal because polygamous relationships are beneficial. Firstly, polygamy is thought to reduce prostitution on the street. It is argued out that polygamy offers marriage to women who would have otherwise considered the street prostitution as their source of income. Women are less empowered economically than men. In a society where poverty is prevalent, women prefer getting married in order to share resources with their husbands. Considering that females are more than males in many societies, some women miss opportunities of getting married, and end up in prostitution. On top of this, having more than one wife reduces a man’s sexual exploration outside marriage thereby limiting the level of adultery in the society. According to Duncan (2008), polygamy reduces the number of fatherless and motherless children. Having more than one wife or husband is ideal in that, if one spouse passes away, children are left under the custody of the remaining spouses. In addition, polygamy unites more than three families within the society. It enhances cooperation between individual families hence improving social integration. In the end the bonds created through polygamy, promote social harmony. Furthermore, proponents of polygamy point out that the practice helps reduce levels of poverty within a society. There is always the possibility of increased income in polygamous families since each individual contributes to the household budget. In doing these, the level of poverty is reduced within families. The psychological and physical effects of polygamy The negative impacts of polygamy to individuals and to society are profound. Children and women are the most affected in polygamous communities. Opponents argue that physical and psychological effects explain why this practice is morally wrong (Moosa, Benjamin Jeenah, 2008). The Studies carried out so far point out that polygamy lead to rivalry amongst co-wives. This rivalry stems from competition, jealousy, and unequal distribution of resources (Moosa, Benjamin Jeenah, 2008). This creates an acrimonious relationship between children and wives. It causes psychological problems for children and women. Women suffer from psychiatric conditions such as low self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, and somatization. Children also suffer due to lack of parental attention. They feel displaced from their parents, which result in emotional insecurity. They also exhibit emotional stress and anxiety more than children in monogamous families (Moosa, Benjamin Jeenah, 2008). How polygamy leads to gender discrimination Most of the contemporary communities practicing polygamy discriminate against the female gender. According to Strauss (2012), a polygamous society imposes strict rules on women. Women are forced by religious, cultural, and familial pressures to forego vocational and educational opportunities. This forces them to enter into marriages as the only option of achieving financial stability. Religious and cultural beliefs require them to be obedient to their husbands no matter the circumstance, in order to avoid divorce. On the other hand, there is great neglect and abuse of children rights. Many societies strive to make boys excel and marry off young girls. This maintains gender imbalances within the society (Strauss, 2012). In addition to the above moral question of polygamy, Strauss (2012) explains that there is a rampant gender bias and discrimination in polygamous societies. Su ch societies recognize and accept that the male gender can marry more than one wife. They deny women from having multiple partners. More so, they do not allow same sex marriages. This elicits the moral question as to why it is morally correct to allow men to have multiple partners and deny women the same right. Strauss further observes that the contemporary polygamous communities promote a sexist culture (2012). Moreover, it promotes hierarchical power relations that limit innovation and individual independence, which significantly cause poverty. Strauss’ opinions about a society allowing marriage of girls instead pursuing different opportunities hold strong grounds. It is morally wrong to force underage girls into early marriages. Marriage should be informed on adequate consent of all parties involved. Underage girls in polygamous communities are denied the rights to choose what is right for them from a very tender age (Wall, 2003). In addition, it is not acceptable for West ern societies not to acknowledge that polygamy exist in their societies when it does happen. Many individuals in the Western World are ignorant of the existence of polygamy in their society. A secret polygamy case that makes another spouse unaware of its existence is an unethical manifestation of this practice in the modern society. The positive effects vs. the negative effects of legalizing polygamy The underlying positives of polygamy are unconvincing in the modern society. Proponents’ arguments are defective and have limited defenses. The positives are by far outweighed by the negative effects on men, women, children, and the society at large. Polygamy promotes inequalities in the society where the central individual in marriage assumes greater rights and expectations. Husbands having a greater control over the family deny others autonomy, and hence encourages inequalities in the society. It renders one gender as a peripheral spouse, as opposed to the ethical correctness o f the marriage that encourages equity and shared rights. It is critical to acknowledge that the positive effects of polygamy such as a reduction of prostitution and parentless children can also be achieved in monogamous societies. It is always right to be a brother’s keeper in everyday life. The society is socially bound to take care of its members regardless of the family structure. Parentless children are part of the society and cannot be denounced with the absence of polygamy. However, the consequences of polygamy are permanent and devastating. The injuries to the society such as increased crime, sexist culture, and substance abuse as a result of polygamy are destructive. They can deprive off the social structures that take long to build. In addition, the psychological and physical effects leave permanent marks in an individual’s life as compared to the benefits that are derived from the practice. Conclusion Polygamy is a practice that is still inherent in the moder n society. It is alive in many societies in Africa, Asia, Oceania, and to some extent in Western nations. Cultural beliefs and customs, religion, and legal factors contribute to rampant cases of polygamy. The justification of polygamy is contested, and the whole concept is misunderstood. Whereas it is acceptable in the majority of societies in Africa and Middle East, it remains a controversial topic in the Western nations. The literature that has covered polygamy calls for its recognition in law or its total ban. The moral question of polygamy remains controversial and little attention is given to it. Though the practice has few positive, its consequences are injurious to children and women in the society at large. Children and women suffer from psychiatric conditions as well as gender discrimination. On the other hand, the society also suffers from increased crime and unwanted behaviors. From this, it can be concluded that polygamy is structurally in-egalitarian that leads to more negative consequences than the positive ones. References Al-Krenawi, A., Slonim-Nevo, V. (2008). Psychosocial and familial functioning of children from polygamous and monogamous families. The Journal of social psychology, 148(6), 745-764. Awusabo-Asare, K. Anarfi, J.K. (1997). Postpartum sexual abstinence in the era of AIDS in Ghana: prospects for change. Health Transition Review, 7, 257–270. Duncan, E. J. (2008). Positive Effects of Legalizing Polygamy: Love Is a Many Splendored Thing, The. Duke Journal of Gender Law Policy, 15(315), 315-337. Elbedour, S., Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Caridine, C., Abu-Saad, H. (2002). The effect of polygamous marital structure on behavioral, emotional, and academic adjustment in children: A comprehensive review of the literature. Clinical child and family psychology review, 5(4), 255-271. McLaren, J., Coward, H. G. (1999). Religious conscience, the state, and the law: Historical contexts and contemporary significance. Albany: State University o f New York Press. Moosa, M. Y. H., Benjamin, R., Jeenah, F. Y. (2008). A review of multi-spousal relationships-psychosocial effects and therapy. South African Journal of Psychiatry, 12(2), 12-14. Strauss, G. (2012). Is Polygamy Inherently Unequal? Ethics, 122(3), 516-544. Tabi, M., M., Doster, C. Cheney, T. (2010). A qualitative study of women in polygynous marriages. International Nursing Review, 57, 121–127. Wall, T. F. (2003). Thinking critically about moral problems. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Waller, B. N. (2011). Consider ethics: Theory, readings, and contemporary issues. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. This essay on The Effect of Polygamy on the Modern Society was written and submitted by user Rosemary Wolfe to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Learn About Gothic Literature With Elements and Examples

Learn About Gothic Literature With Elements and Examples The term Gothic originates with the ornate architecture created by Germanic tribes called the Goths.  It was then later expanded to include most of the medieval style of architecture. The ornate and intricate style of this kind of architecture proved to be the ideal backdrop for both the physical and the psychological settings in a new literary style, one that concerned itself with elaborate tales of mystery, suspense, and superstition. The height of the Gothic period, which was closely aligned with Romanticism, is usually considered to have been the years 1764–1840, but its influence extends to the present day in authors such as V.C. Andrews. Plot and Examples The plot of Gothic literature novels typically involves people who become involved in complex and oftentimes evil paranormal schemes, usually against an innocent and helpless heroine. One such example is the young Emily St. Aubert in Anne Radcliffe’s classic Gothic novel, The Mysteries of Udolpho (1794). This novel would inspire parody in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey (1817). The most famous example of pure Gothic fiction is perhaps the first example of the genre, Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto (1764). Although rather short, the setting certainly fits the description given above, and the combined elements of terror and medievalism set a precedent for an entirely new, thrilling genre. Selected Bibliography In addition to The Mysteries of Udolpho and The Castle of Otranto, there are a number of classic novels that those who are interested in Gothic literature will want to pick up. Here is a list of 10 titles that are not to be missed: The History of the Caliph Vathek (1786) by William Thomas BeckfordThe Monk (1796) by Mathew LewisFrankenstein (1818) by Mary ShelleyMelmoth the Wanderer (1820) by Charles MaturinSalathiel the Immortal (1828) by George CrolyThe Hunchback of Notre-Dame (1831) by Victor HugoThe Fall of the House of Usher (1839) by Edgar Allan PoeVarney the Vampire; or, the Feast of Blood (1847) by James Malcolm RymerThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886) by Robert Louis StevensonDracula (1897) by Bram Stoker Key Elements In most of the examples above, one will find certain key elements ascribed to Gothic fiction.  They  include: Atmosphere: In the Gothic novel, the atmosphere will be one of mystery, suspense, and fear, the mood of which is only enhanced by elements of the unknown or unexplained. Clergy: Often, as in The Monk and The Castle of Otranto, the clergy play important secondary roles. They are often weak and sometimes outrageously evil. The paranormal: Oftentimes Gothic fiction will contain elements of the supernatural or paranormal, such as ghosts and vampires. In some instances, these supernatural features are later explained in perfectly natural terms, but in other works, they remain completely inexplicable. Melodrama: Also called â€Å"high emotion,† melodrama is created through highly sentimental language and overly emotional characters. The panic, terror, and other emotions can seem overwrought in order to make the characters and setting seem wild and out of control. Omens: Typical of the genre, omens- or portents and visions- often foreshadow events to come. They can take many forms, such as dreams. Setting: The setting of a Gothic novel is typically a character in its own right. Gothic architecture plays an important role, so the stories are often set in a castle or large manor, which is typically abandoned. Other settings may include caves or the wilderness. Virginal maiden in distress: With the exception of a few novels, such as Sheridan Le Fanu’s Carmilla (1872), most Gothic villains are powerful males who prey on young, virginal women. This dynamic creates tension and appeals deeply to the readers pathos, particularly as these heroines tend to be orphaned, abandoned, or somehow severed from the world, without guardianship. Modern Critiques Modern readers and critics have begun to think of Gothic literature as referring to any story that uses an elaborate setting, combined with supernatural or super-evil forces against an innocent protagonist. The contemporary understanding is similar but has widened to include a variety of genres, such as paranormal and horror.

Example of Effective Communication in a Business Environment essay

Example of Effective Communication in a Business Environment essay Example of Effective Communication in a Business Environment essay Example of Effective Communication in a Business Environment essayCommunication is an essential part of human life and has a notable impact on all spheres of human life. In business, communication plays a key role in all types of interactions: top-down interactions, bottom-up interactions, interactions of two equal parties, negotiations, etc (Hartley Bruckmann, 2008). All three types of communications are important for business written communications, verbal communications and expressed communications, also referred to as body language (Hartley Bruckmann, 2008). Business performance and outcomes strongly depend on the effectiveness of communication, because all business transactions include the transmission of information between various stakeholders.One example of effective communication in a business environment took place when I assisted a top manager who was responsible for negotiating with suppliers. I was present at the negotiations and provided various assistance to the top manager. The top managers way of conducting the negotiations and his methods of communication were very efficient.The purpose of the negotiations was to achieve an agreement on the terms and pricing of supplying spare parts for automobiles. The top managers goal was to get discounts or to convince suppliers to offer lower prices; furthermore, it was desirable to reach an agreement that would allow our company to pay for the spare parts after the parts were shipped. Initially, it seemed that it would not be possible to achieve the goals of the communication because the initial conditions offered by the suppliers included higher prices and required sending payment before the orders were assembled and prepared for shipping. However, the top manager managed to convince the suppliers to provide 5-8% discounts for bulk orders. Furthermore, the agreement between our company and suppliers allowed for 80% of payment to be sent after the order was actually shipped.In my opinion, the communic ation was very effective because the top manager managed to move ahead on each objective of the negotiations, so the new agreement created notable financial benefits for our company compared to the previous conditions. In addition, such agreement allowed to set lower prices for our customers, therefore gaining a market advantage over competitors.I believe that the communication was effective because of the following reasons. First of all, the top manager was very well-prepared for the conversation and remembered a lot of market information that he used to convince the suppliers. For example, he made a comparative analysis of the conditions offered by other suppliers and showed the projected order volumes to the suppliers. The second factor contributing to the success of the communications was the focus on win-win solutions: the top manager analyzed the situation from the point of view of the other party (the suppliers, in this case), and clearly demonstrated the advantages of reachi ng an agreement with our company on their side. The third factor that made these negotiations effective was the top managers attentiveness to the reactions and arguments of the other party; the top manager did not push on the supplier representatives to get maximal discount or maximal payment delay, but instead worked together with them to create a mutually convenient solution.According to Hartley and Bruckmann (2008), the effectiveness of communication can be evaluated using five criteria: communication fidelity (preciseness), economy (compact use of symbols, time and energy), congruence (the match between verbal and non-verbal signals), influence (the communicators ability to change the decisions of the other party) and relationship building (creation of trust and improvement of relationships due to communications). In terms of this criteria, the top manager was successful in at least four categories: fidelity the top managers communication was up to the point and informative, co ngruence his nonverbal signals demonstrated confidence and supported his strong position, influence the representatives of the supplier were impressed by the arguments and took them into account, and relationship building   the other party demonstrated respect and positively perceived the results of the negotiations.

Point of View Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Point of View - Essay Example The weather is so bright and white like an ocean. A sparrow comes flying from nowhere and rests at the branch of the bottlebrush tree. As it sits, the delicate branch slightly sways in the air with the impact of the sparrow’s weight and a bottlebrush flower falls down into my lap, as if it is a gift of nature to make my experience more memorable. The sparrow inflates its body filling air in its feathers to make a shield against the cold air of the atmosphere. I have never felt as close to and drawn toward the beauty and innocence of Mother Nature as I feel in these moments. My line of sight takes a 60 degree shift in the vertical plane as it moves from the sparrow up on the tree’s branch to the two girls holding hand in hand jumping their way up to the school over the road in front of me. Their sight takes me back to the time when I was their age and used to go to school with Lisa, my best friend and neighbor. They giggle as they pass by. Their laughter breaks the quiet ness and calmness of the surroundings and adds more life and pleasure to it. Soon after that, I hear the sound of bells approaching from a nearby Church, forming a soothing melody. It has been half an hour and the bus has not arrived yet. The fog in the air increases. My vision is obstructed by heavy mist in the air. I am red in the nose and finger tips and white in the face with cold. I seem to be catching flu. The fragrance of the pink roses and the bottlebrush that I enjoyed 30 minutes ago seems to be receding. I blow my nose but can’t really feel the friction of the tissue paper against my nose because of numbness. I throw the tissue paper away. I need another tissue paper but I have no more. I start feeling hungry as I have not had my breakfast since I got ready for the school in a hurry. I take the biscuits out of their pack in my bag, but they have become soggy and have absorbed moisture from the atmosphere. I miss the crunchiness of a dry biscuit and the

The Impact of Television on the 2008 Canadian Elections Essay

The Impact of Television on the 2008 Canadian Elections - Essay Example It i a very good mean of entertainment. It i a ource of entertainment for all age group,right from children to the aged. One can watch colorful animated cartoon for children a well a health how and port for adult. One can even watch movie at home and thu the time and train one ha to take to buy ticket or go to the theater i aved. A peron who i worned out from office can come home and relax himelf to watch hi favorite TV program. Televiion can never bore anyone and erve a a good time pa. Televiion i alo a good TV for a peron to be upgraded with the knowledge of what i happening around the world. Televiion or I can ay ' The Fifth Etate ', next to newpaper can tell people of the recent event happening around u. People now can ee the Iraq war in their drawing room through private TV channel like CNN, BBC, FOX etc. hown on TV, which would never be poible without the televiion. Cinema award and important port pogramme are being watched live nowaday by million of viewer through TV. Thi TV can even change the political life and ha changed it in many countrie. People can upgrade themelve about the government epecially during day of election and budget eion. For example,the downfall of Rajiv Gandhi in India due to the Bofor' crii wa becaue of different type of ma TV like the televiion. Through televiion one can know the detail of recent dicoverie,innovation ,invention and achievement viually happening around the globe. ... Hence,apart from telephone and airplane,I feel televiion are an innovation that ha changed our live and i one of the main reaon for making the world a 'global village'. The introduction of televiion and it component into the political proce ha greatly influenced politic. Televiion ha given politician a whole new way to communicate and expre their belief to voter. There are a few ignificant effect that thi form of TV ha had on the political proce. Firtly, televiion tend to make political life more fluid and volatile. Outcome are much harder to predict with campaign now becaue a ingle performance before a huge audience can eaily end or precipitate iue almot intantaneouly. For intance, during the 1988 federal election, John Turner' TV debate performance reurrected the Liberal party and almot made them win the election. If it wan't for the televied debate, the Liberal would have urely been doomed. Televiion alo force much of the backtage machinery of political life to endure extremely heavy expoure, making it much more open than it ued to be. Prior to the TV, politician and their aociate were only known by their public appearance and campaign, leaving what happened outide thee appearance in the dark. Becaue of TV and the candid camera, the politician and the election can be looked at in more depth now. Political party convention and other 'behind the cene' event can now be televied and hown to the general public. The nationalization of politic i alo a reult temming mainly from televiion. Becaue the party leader i the main peron een on TV, politic at the riding level tend to uffer greatly. Voter do not really care about who i running in their riding; they are more concerned about the party

The Most Dangerous Game Literary Analysis Essay Example for Free

The Most Dangerous Game Literary Analysis Essay In the short story â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game†, Richard Connell uses conflict to create a suspenseful mood. When Rainsofrd is struggling to swim in the ocean it shows man v. nature conflict. â€Å"For a seemingly endless time he fought the sea† (42). Suspense really shows in this scene because its really nailbiting to see if he is going to give up and let himself drown, or if he is going to push and swimm to the island hes heard has a bad reputation. Man v. man conflict is shown when Zaroff challenges Rainsford to the hunt. Zaroff said, â€Å"Your brain against mine. Your woodcraft against mine. Your strength and stamina against mine. Outdoor chess! † (52). The reader feels a lot of suspense in this part because Rainsford is in an unfamiliar place, in the dark, at night, being chased by an expert hunter, his huge servant/guard Ivan, and a pack of wild dogs. The suspenseful mood reaches a turning point when Rainsford chooses to jump off the cliff instead of continuing the hunt. Rainsford also has a lot of man v. self conflict during the hunt. Rainsford has to repeat a motivational phrase to himself so he will keep calm and collected under the stressful hunt. Rainsford repeats, â€Å"I will not lose my nerve. I will not† (54). This adds suspense because it really makes the reader anxious to know whether or not he will keep his cool. In â€Å"The most Dangerous Game† man v. nature, man v. man, and man v. self conflicts are shown to create a suspenseful mood.

Education Essay -- History, Educational Needs, Curriculum

The reasons we educate our children have changed over time. However, some of the core values remain the same. One of the most important purposes of schooling is the transmission of a culture from one generation to the next. It is important to pass on our culture, values, and beliefs to our children so we continue to have a cohesive population. Schooling offers opportunity to our children by teaching them valuable skills that allow them to be self-sufficient and lead successful lives. Schooling also serves to decrease the social ills those without an education suffer from. A final purpose of education is to create people who are active in civic life. All societies have used formal education to pass on their culture. Schools have been used for centuries to pass on religion, values, and other culturally significant principles. Our culture and curriculum are fully intertwined. When the colonists came to America they brought with them their culture and the way they educated their children reflected that. The first colonists were very religious people and their curriculum was very faith-based. It complimented the instruction they received at church and home. As immigrants flooded into the country, life changed dramatically. As the population spread west, the typical family and social dynamics rapidly changed. People became widely dispersed, and the church’s authority and influence was no longer as important. People soon realized the way they were used to educating their children needed to adapt to their new way of life. Initially only wealthy male children were educated. People might teach their girls to read and write their name, but many believed girls and women lacked the mental capacity to learn much beyond that. In the seve... ...re being piloted at the early grades in a widespread manner† (Feldman, 2007, pg.4) This is a step in the right direction and hopefully with time, there will be an increased awareness and importance placed on civic education. The purpose of schooling can be highly subjective, but some core purposes have persisted through time. These core values are important and will continue to be the driving force of education. Unfortunately, many times the idealized purposes of education are vastly different from the reality. Our education system is not perfect but it is constantly improving. Despite its flaws, our current school system does teach our children many important skills, both socially and academically. School gives our children a chance to reach their full potential and succeed in life. As our culture changes, so will our purposes behind educating our children.

Daydreams Essay: Exam Question

Daydreams A day dream is defined as ‘a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one’s attention from the present’. In my opinion, a daydream is not a frivolous activity practiced only by a doe eyed schoolgirl during an unendurable French lesson. A daydream acts as a subconscious portal which allows one to escape from ones everyday life of stress and negative circumstances. One could almost say it is chewing gum for the mind. Of course, some differ in that view.A critically acclaimed author Ian McEwan said â€Å"The cost of oblivious daydreaming was always this moment of return, the realignment with what had been before and now seemed a little worse. †   his opinion is that daydreaming is a self depressant and that it would only make the persons view of their own life disappointing. He believes that it is a pointless to waste ones time on imaginings of alternative lives that will never become reality. But I wonder if it was these ‘oblivious’ daydreams which lead to him writing many of his books like ‘sweet tooth’ and ‘atonement’.Where is the fine line between daydreaming and simply thinking of possibilities? I myself am a keen daydreamer, sometimes I just lie on my bed and I quietly slip into a dreamtime of my own imaginings. I don’t directly imagine some event or situation I drift between scattered thoughts in search of that perfect possibility. That perfect possibility which fills me with an unconscious serenity and extracts me from my reality to show me a fictional circumstance.When I carefully draw that perfect possibility from the shadows of my mind, like picking an eyelash from my cheek, I examine it cautiously so as not to miss a moment of the fabricated thought. My daydreams can vary from the most extravagant and outlandish events to very trivial thoughts formed by my imagination. I often daydream about my future and what it could be like. My mind becomes completely consumed by t his image and the steps I would need to take to make it a reality. I very much enjoy watching movies where you see projections of the characters daydreams.These daydreams normally vividly depict what that character would love to do in that moment; it is usually an action that would not be acceptable in society. For example, an employee humorously insults their boss or a mother-in-law imagines shoving her daughter-in-laws face into a cake. These amusing daydreams provide a comedic outlet. But when I am watching these movies I can’t help but wish my daydream was that vivid. I never get a completely clear image; all I get is a serious of quick flashes of images.My daydreams are not fluid they are choppy they don’t possess a natural flow like my sleeping dreams have. I often wonder if the fluidity of day dreams and dreams changes for each person. Some psychiatrists believe that the imaginings of one’s mind is associated with mental health and stability, so my questi on is ‘if people’s mental health varies does their way of dreaming vary? ’ Many famous people have become famous because of their daydreams. Einstein is believed to have begun his theory of relativity while he daydreamed about riding or running beside a sunbeam to the edge of the universe.This tiny moment where Einstein’s mind accidentally wandered resulted in a huge scientific breakthrough. Einstein’s theory of relativity which contributed to the development of the atomic bomb. Many famously inspired people praise daydreaming, a well known American poet named Rita Dove celebrates daydreaming. She once said â€Å"I want to discuss an activity which is barely tolerated in adolescence, never encouraged in school – but without which no bridges would soar, no light bulbs burn. † She found that daydreaming was like a creative outlet where one can discover something beautiful without attention.Mozart also believed that daydreaming was a proc ess of greatness â€Å"All this inventing, this producing, takes place in a lively dream† I find it amazing that one daydream, just one, can create a ripple effect and change the world. This tiny thought which is considered insignificant, at first look, can cause an action which is very much significant, in the long term. The positive effects of daydreaming are limitless but of course, daydreaming also has its negative aspects. There is a time when daydreaming can be useful and productive, but other times it can cause you to lose focus and you can miss out.There is a time for fantasy but there is also a time for reality. But overall, my opinion is that daydreaming is positive when one is not daydreaming constantly and about bad things, which can result in depression. Daydreams can be very influential on a person’s mental health. If one is only thinking about negative possibilities, their outlook on life becomes cloudy and hopeless. I once heard someone say ‘How m any of our daydreams would darken into nightmares, were there danger if their coming true. ’ Just because one imagines something it does not mean they want it to come true.The fact that daydreams are just daydreams makes them free to anyone with an imagination. Daydreaming is an activity for all ages; one does not have to be of a certain height to daydream. One does not have to be a particular age to daydream and one does not require three forms of identification to daydream. When one is daydreaming they are free of judgment and worry. Some say, one man’s daydream is another man’s day, but neither will ever know, I think it is the fact that our daydreams are private that makes them our own personal unwritten diary of hope.Just like one’s diaries our daydreams change, our handwriting improves and our thoughts become slightly more grounded. When we are young our daydreams consist of imaginary friends from exotic places and tea parties on the moon with the E aster bunny and Santa Clause. Daydreams as a child are not recognised by the daydreamer. Children can often confuse their fantasies with reality and think their daydreams actually happened. We can openly express our daydreams with others and it is accepted in society and cast off as the sweet imaginings of children with active imaginations.When we are older our daydreams become more refined and closer to reality. The more mature daydreamer imagines what their life would be like if they had taken a different path , some also imagine situations that they are presently in and how they would change if they said or did something. Of course every now and then the inner child in everybody takes charge and we succumb to our childlike fantasies. But these fantasies are not confessed to others often. We never become too old to dream but I wonder at what age one becomes too old for the publication of one’s daydreams.

Nurse-patient ratio

Nurse-patient ratio laws are state mandates requiring hospitals to keep to a maximum sealing limit of the ratio of nurses to patients. At the moment, states that have yet to apply any nurse-patient ratio limits typically charge each of their nurses the care of at least 6 nurses and even as high as 8 to 10 (Churchouse, 2002). Barnes-Jewish hospital for example has a ratio of 1 nurse to 10 patients (St. Louis, 2004). California's Assembly Bill 394 is one of the forerunning legislations that mandated the regulation of nurse-patient ratios across hospitals. This bill had been largely contested by hospital lobbyists who are now bartering with state officials on the most flexible regulations that could be imposed. While nursing associations and nursing labor unions all over the country are proposing the ideal 1:2 ratio, hospital management firmly claim this to be impossible. In some other states such as Illinois, staging progression procedures have been introduced as a viable means to improve nurse-patient ratios over a period of 5-10 years (Bartolomeo, 2001). Since after the Second World War, the problem of increasing nurse-patient ratios have begun to accrue. By the mid-80s the pressing need for more nurses became even more drastic when the academe saw a decline in the local demand for the profession. This eventually led hospitals to searching for nurses abroad which continued to persist to the present day. However, outsourcing the nurse supply was also coupled by hospital management cutbacks on staffing which still resulted to poor nurse-patient ratios. Hospitals also allegedly implemented management regulations preventing nursing staff from discussing and objecting to nurse-patient hospital policies. However by the late 90s, nursing unions have begun to seek help from media institutions, local communities, and contract negotiators to help them bargain less congested working conditions with hospital management. This led the nursing unions to asking help from their respective state governments. Finally in January of 2002, California’s AB 394 mandated the issue of staffing ratios in hospitals throughout the state, but this victory of the nursing unions was short-lived as hospital management immediately bargained with legislators for staffing ratios that were most advantageous for them. While nursing organizations persisted with a 1:2 to a 1:4 ratio, hospital lobbyists led by the California Healthcare Association, a consortium of 500 hospitals insisted that the acceptable nurse-patient ratio could be no less than 1:6. Currently, one of the country’s largest Health Management Organizations, Kaiser Permanente broke away from the bulk of institutions opposed to lower nurse-patient ratios and advocated a 1:4 ratio that it currently implements in its facilities. Kaiser discussed further ways of lowering the ratio with nursing unions and agreed to have the approved recommendations of such discussions implemented on all Kaiser owned establishments (Bartolomeo, 2001). Current working conditions lead nurses into compromising situations wherein their work suffers because of the immense number of tasks that they have to do all at once. While some hospitals implement â€Å"fair† policies that allow nurses enough room to breathe in their work, a lot more hospitals and health care organizations are run by profit oriented groups whose main concern includes minimizing costs. What’s worse is that since health care in various parts of the country has been transformed into a corporate affair between gigantic businesses who buy health care plans from HMOs who sell them, competition has become a matter of who can provide the better corporate deal over who can provide better hospital service. Since the patients don’t have much choice with respect to which health care deals their employer will take, this rules out quality by competition from ushering hospitals to make nurse-patient ratio improvements on their own. Thus, a state mandated regulation is the only way to force these hospitals to provide an appropriate working environment for their nurses. There are several controversial aspects to the legislation of nurse-patient ratio regulation. One popular controversy is the actual capability of today’s supply of nurses to fill in the vacancies that would be created by such legislation. The Illinois Hospital Association contends that current nursing programs of the state are not viable to handle the demand for the number of nurses required to maintain the ratios mandated by laws like California’s AB394. Another criticism is insensitivity of a rigid nurse-patient ratio to patient’s individual medical differences. Critics also point out differences between hospitals, resources and even nursing units which could be blurred out in the implementation of a state mandate indiscriminately throughout all hospitals. I believe that hospital policies at the moment are more profit-oriented than health oriented. It is this slippery slope that leads to understaffing and overly high nurse-patient ratios. However, I also think that an inflexible legislation on nurse-patient ratios would do little to solve the problem. Nurses from different units are very different and there needs to be more extensive needs analysis studies conducted before a proper legislative action could be taken. Therefore while I am in favor of state legislation in order to curb inherent profit-oriented biases of hospital management, I am not in favor of haphazardly implementing one at the moment without considering factors forwarded by institutions like the Illinois Hospital Association. Like I said, I believe that while the California legislation is a victory for the labor rights of nurses in the state, it does not ensure an increase in nursing quality. I would consider the act positive with respect to labor rights but neutral with respect to patient care. Extensive scrutiny should be placed on the issues that arose after the legislation such as the differences among hospitals, resources, and nursing units. References: Churchouse, C. (2002). Senate Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry Into Nursing. Retrieved: July 19, 2007 from: http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:uQtMh4POYlUJ:www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/completed_inquiries/2002-04/nursing/submissions/sub04.doc+current+nurse-patient+ratio;hl=tl;ct=clnk;cd=3;gl=ph Bartolomeo, C. (2001). â€Å"Mandated staffing ratios: Health care professionals see the benefits and pitfalls.† Journal of the American Federation of Teachers. Vol. 30 Issue 2. P.114-118. Barnes-Jewish Hospital seeks to lower nurse-patient ratio. Retrieved July 19, 2007 from St. Louis Business Journal Website: http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2004/11/29/daily50.html ;

Consumers Warned of Online Payday Loan Sites

Consumers Warned of Online Payday Loan Sites As you look at the automated ads that surround this article, keep in mind that the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has long advised consumers to exercise extreme caution when using internet payday loan web sites, where loans due by the next payday, can cost up to $30 per $100 borrowed and borrowers typically face annual interest rates (APRs) of 650%. According to a CFA survey of one hundred Internet payday loan sites, small loans involving electronic access to consumers checking accounts pose high risks to consumers who borrow money by transmitting personal financial information via the internet. Automatically Zapping Your Bank Account Internet payday loans cost up to $30 per $100 borrowed and must be repaid or refinanced by the borrowers next payday, said Jean Ann Fox, CFAs director of consumer protection. If payday is in two weeks, a $500 loan costs $150, and $650 will be electronically withdrawn from the borrowers checking account. Many surveyed lenders automatically renew loans by electronically withdrawing the finance charge from the consumers checking account every payday. If consumers fail to have enough money on deposit to cover the finance charge or repayment, both the payday lender and the bank will impose insufficient funds fees. Where Payday Loans Lurk Online payday loans are marketed through e-mail, online search, paid ads, and referrals. Typically, a consumer fills out an online application form or faxes a completed application that requests personal information, bank account numbers, Social Security Numbers and employer information. Borrowers fax copies of a check, a recent bank statement, and signed paperwork. The loan is direct deposited into the consumers checking account and loan payment or the finance charge is electronically withdrawn on the borrowers next payday. High Cost, High Risk Internet payday loans are dangerous for cash-strapped consumers, stated Ms. Fox. They combine the high costs and collection risks of check-based payday loans with security risks of sending bank account numbers and Social Security Numbers over web links to unknown lenders. CFAs survey of 100 Internet payday loan sites showed that loans from $200 to $2,500 were available, with $500 the most frequently offered. Finance charges ranged from $10 per $100 up to $30 per $100 borrowed. The most frequent rate was $25 per $100, or 650% annual interest rate (APR) if the loan is repaid in two weeks. Typically loans are due on the borrowers next payday which can be a shorter term. Only 38 sites disclosed the annual interest rates for loans prior to customers completing the application process, while 57 sites quoted the finance charge. The most frequently posted APR was 652%, followed by 780%. Although loans are due on the borrowers next payday, many surveyed sites automatically renew the loan, withdrawing the finance charge from the borrowers bank account and extending the loan for another pay cycle. Sixty-five of the surveyed sites permit loan renewals with no reduction in principal. At some lenders, consumers have to take additional steps to actually repay the loan. After several renewals, some lenders require borrowers to reduce the loan principal with each renewal. Contracts from Internet payday lenders include a range of one-sided terms, such as mandatory arbitration clauses, agreements not to participate in class action lawsuits, and agreements not to file for bankruptcy. Some lenders require applicants to agree to keep their bank accounts open until loans are repaid. Others ask for voluntary wage assignments even in states where wage assignments are not legal. CFA advises consumers not to borrow money based on giving a post-dated paper check or electronic access to a bank account as security. Payday loans are too expensive and too hard to repay on the next payday. CFA advises consumers never to transmit bank account numbers, Social Security numbers or other personal financial information via the Internet or by fax to unknown companies. Consumers should shop for lower cost credit, comparing both the dollar finance charge and the APR to get the lowest cost credit available. For help with financial problems, CFA urges consumers to seek credit counseling help or legal assistance.

The Three Musketeers Book Report Profile

The Three Musketeers Book Report Profile The first step in writing an excellent book report is reading the book and marking interesting phrases or notable features in the margins. You should use active reading skills to retain the most from the text. Your book report should contain all of the following, in addition to the plot summary. Title and Publication The Three Musketeers was written in 1844. It was published in serial form in the French magazine, Le Siecle over the course of 5 months. The novel’s current publisher is Bantam Books, New York. Author Alexandre Dumas Setting The Three Musketeers is set in 17th century France during the reign of Louis XIII. The story takes place predominantly in Paris, but the protagonist’s adventures take him across the French countryside and as far as England. Though the novel is based on historical information, and many of the events, such as the siege of New Rochelle, really occurred, Dumas has taken artistic liberties with many of the characters. It should not be looked at as a factual account of this period. Instead, the novel should be recognized as a fine example of the genre of Romance. Characters D’Artagnan, the protagonist, a poor but intelligent Gascon who has come to Paris to join The Musketeers and make his fortune. Athos, Porthos, Aramis, the Musketeers for whom the novel is named. These men become D’Artagnan’s closest friend and share in his adventures, his successes, and his failures.Cardinal Richelieu, the second most powerful man in France, the Cardinal is the enemy of D’Artagnan and the Musketeers and the chief antagonist of the novel. He is great statesman and strategist but is driven by a need for control to commit devious acts designed to advance his own cause.Anne de Breuil (Lady de Winter, Milady), an agent of the Cardinal and a woman devoured by greed and bent on vengeance. She becomes a particular enemy of D’Artagnan.Count de Rochefort, the first enemy D’Artagnan makes and an agent of the Cardinal. His destiny is closely tied to that of D’Artagnan. Plot The novel follows D’Artagnan and his friends through several court intrigues and amorous encounters. These accounts are entertaining adventures that not only advance the plot but, perhaps more importantly, describe the fundamentals of court society as well as revealing character. As the story develops, its focus narrows to center on the struggle between Milady and D’Artagnan; the heart of the story is the war waged between good and evil. D’Artagnan and his friends, even considering their immoral actions, are cast as protectors of King and Queen while Milady and the Cardinal represent consummate evil. Questions to Ponder The questions to follow will help you detect important themes and ideas in the novel: Structure of the novel: This book was first published as a serial. How may that have dictated the exposition of the plot?Dumas engages his readers by addressing them directly throughout the novel. What reasons might the author have had for doing this, and how does it affect the overall success of the story? Consider the conflict between individuals: How do D’Artagnan and his friends differ from what we expect of our heroes?Can you find any sympathy for Milady? Why or why not? Examine the traditional roles of this society: What is chivalry?Dumas tells his readers that â€Å"Our modern ideas of pride had not yet come into fashion.† How is the morality of this time different from our own?How does life at court drive the characters toward their destinies? Possible First Sentences Consider these examples as possible first sentences for your book report: â€Å"The genre of Romance always contains the thematic elements of love and chivalry and The Three Musketeers is no exception.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Milady is a woman centuries ahead of her time.†Ã¢â‚¬Å"Friendship is the most valuable asset one can possess.†

Storm Chasing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Storm Chasing - Assignment Example Prior to the beginning of a tornado, forecasters are concerned about the potential of a tornado outbreak. These are called the ingredients of a tornado outbreak or the classical elements of a tornado production. Among of which includes a very warm and humid air near the surface with colder air aloft, strong variations of winds with height (vertical wind shear), an upper-level storm system plowing into the Southeast, and a cold front (Henson, 2011, n.p.). Tornadoes developed in a condition that spawns atmospheric setting for severe thunderstorm. The warm, humid air is overlain by a cooler, drier air aloft that leads to atmospheric instability and when a low level jet and polar jet stream provide strong vertical wind shear, the surface air is forced upward and large super cells thunderstorms spawning tornadoes may form. Most tornado outbreaks occur in Tornado Alley (from West Texas northeast through the western and central portions of Oklahoma and Kansas and across most of Nebraska) an d during the spring and summer due to the presence of warm surface air ground (Rafferty, 2011, 170). Mortalities and case fatalities from tornado outbreaks are extremely high. ... Please make a list of your recommendations and provide justification for each. After the disaster brought by the typhoon Katrina, a number of structural defects and personnel failures were noted. These have made the city of New Orleans at risk for the aftermath of another Katrina-like disaster. The structural defect being pointed out is the design, foundation, and composition of the New Orleans and Gulf Coast communities’ protection against raging storms (Fischetti, 2005, n.p.) while personnel failures include neglect of duties, insufficient actions or poor decisions, systems failure, and lack of effective leadership (Collins et al., 2006, 2). Instead of redesigning a single levee which can compromise the safety of New Orleans residents, the author recommends the construction of floodwalls which require less land than a levee and can stand on earthen foundations. In addition, constructing flood walls are much better because levees starved the wetlands south and east of the cit y of the sediment, nutrients and freshwater they need to thrive, cut off sediment flow that builds barrier islands ringing the delta, and impact economy because of rebuilding costs and food price hike due to food shortage. Meanwhile, recommendations to address personnel failures include: development of an effective response emergency/disaster preparedness headed by the chief executive to centralize and coordinate emergency actions; initiating a planning exercise or drill from federal, state, local officials, media, and citizens featuring a storm-like scenario to determine and address faults in the system and inform the public of things to do in case of a disaster; devotion of sufficient

Supply and demand, why demand is better Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Supply and demand, why demand is better - Article Example One of the two factors in economics is dependent on the other and therefore the independent factor is the most important in economics. According Blaug, supply depends on demand in the market. The article is titled, Economic Theory in Retrospect and was published by the Cambridge University Press. The article is authored in English as the original language of the author and the target group. The major subjects covered in the article are economics and history within the concepts and discipline of economics. The economic history contained in the book is linked to the fathers of economic and the concepts they applied to explain economic. This book covers the historical situation and concepts economics and the current thoughts including the relationship between demand and supply. The author outlines the equations of demand and supply curves and it is from this point that the reliance of supply on demand in the economical perspectives reveals the significance of demand over supply. The impact of demand on the central factor of both demand and supply that is the price implies a course of effect on supply. The author argues that the increase in the demand of a given product at a given price increases the motive to supply the customers with the commodities demanded. When demand increases the prices in the market increases too prompting the need to meet the demand that is desired in the market and the producers are forced to increase the supply. Supply in market is linked to the possibility and surety that the market will be able to buy the products. Higher prices caused by increase in the demand in the market inspire the producers to increase the supply into the market. Higher prices indicate the times when the producers are targeting the market and this is the time they increase the supply into the market. This therefore reveals that demand is independent of supply while supply

Genetics((Drosophila)) Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Genetics((Drosophila)) - Lab Report Example Drosophila which is the common fruit fly has been used extensively in carrying out genetic research. This is due to the fact that the species is relatively stable. There are many factors that make Drosophila suitable for carrying out genetic research. They have mutations that can easily be differentiated from one another. They are able to produce large number of offspring which can be easily calculated into ratios. Furthermore, they are small and have four pairs of chromosomes which make it easy to discern them. They are convenient to work with as far as study period is concerned by the fact that they have a life cycle of 12 days. In this practical Drosophila is used to study Mendel’s Law in organisms. I would accept the hypothesis as the results are logical with it. The results, of course, make sense as they are consistent with theories of Mendel’s Law. They have occurred as expected. The subsequent generations inherit the traits of their parents. The inheritance takes place according to the predictions of Mendel’s law. Combination of alleles is useful in producing variability of offspring. It is assumed that the alleles occur in spate chromosomes. Otherwise, the combination would not be effective if the factors come from the same

College Enrollment Essay Example for Free

College Enrollment Essay Income inequality has been increasing for the past 20 years. A substantial part of the increase in income differences can be explained by changes in the return to education. In dollar terms, 1973 college graduates earned 45 percent more than high school graduates; by 1994 they earned 65 percent more, based on real average hourly wages for college and high school graduates (Baumol and Blinder, 1997). The increasing income disparities between groups of differing educational attainment raises concern that access to postsecondary education (PSE) may not be as widespread as desired. President Clinton urged for the goal of universal college access in his 1997 State of the Union address, â€Å"We must make the thirteenth and fourteenth years of education—at least two years of college—just as universal in America by the 21st century as a high school education is today, and we must open the doors of college to all Americans. † Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS) and the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), this study examines access to postsecondary education by individuals in different income and test score groups. While many studies have found a statistically significant effect of income on college enrollment,1 less attention has been paid to the effect of family income after controlling for student achievement. This study specifically addresses this issue. We also explore differences in the decision of whether or not to attend PSE or in the type of PSE attended. We are interested in whether students are substituting less expensive alternatives (such as public or 2-year institutions) for high cost institutions, or whether they are not attending PSE at all. However, we do not examine selectivity of institutions attended. Another goal of this study is to determine which factors, including high school experiences, are especially important in determining college enrollment patterns. Hossler and Maple (1993) find that information on individual background factors allows them to predict, with a high degree of accuracy, which ninth-graders will go to college. The emphasis in our study is on how 1 See, for example, Leslie and Brinkman (1987), Savoca (1990), Schwartz (1986), and Mortenson and Wu (1990). SECTION I. INTRODUCTION 1 MATHTECH, INC. early indicators, such as expectations and course-taking behavior in the eighth grade, are related to college attendance six years later. 2 Last, we explore whether financial aid availability is a critical factor in determining PSE attendance. The combined effects of shifting federal support from grants to loans, and college tuition increasing at a rate faster than inflation are expected to have a large impact on enrollment patterns for low income youth. This report examines knowledge of and attitudes toward financial aid, and the relationship between such factors and PSE attendance. We also examine the effect of financial aid receipt on PSE attendance. In summary, the main research questions addressed in this report are: 1. 2. 3. 4. What percentage of students attend PSE, and what types of PSE do they attend? How are income and test score related to who goes to college? What factors, including high school experiences, are especially important in determining college enrollment patterns? Is financial aid availability a critical factor for determining PSE attendance? The rest of the report proceeds as follows. Section II describes the literature on individual and institutional factors that affect PSE attendance. Section III provides an overview of the data used in this report. It describes the NELS data, the NPSAS data, samples and weights used in the study, and correction of standard errors for sampling techniques. Section IV examines who goes to college. The section highlights the main answers to the first two research questions posed above, in a univariate or multivariate framework. Section V examines factors related to PSE attendance. Section VI explores the importance of financial aid, including knowledge of financial aid, financial aid applications, and the relationship between being offered financial aid and PSE attendance. Last, we include a bibliography of cited references. The executive summary (at the beginning of the report) highlights our findings and provides policy implications. An NCES study, not yet released, has focused on the â€Å"pipeline to higher education† using the NELS data (NCES, 1997). SECTION I. INTRODUCTION 2 2 MATHTECH, INC. One subset of analysis for this study is the group of low income, high test score students. Low income, high test score students may have the potential to benefit greatly from PSE attendance and, therefore, we want to identify factors or constraints, particularly financial ones, that might limit the students’ educational opportunities beyond high school. SECTION I. INTRODUCTION 3 MATHTECH, INC. II. LITERATURE REVIEW Much of the research on college enrollment patterns is founded upon the â€Å"human capital† model Gary Becker advanced. According to this theory, one decides to enroll in college as an investment in future earning power. Individuals calculate the value of attending college by comparing costs (direct and indirect) with expected income gains, and they make the decision that will maximize their utility over the long term. To understand enrollment behavior according to this model, it is necessary to look at such factors as tuition levels, student financial aid, average wages for high school graduates, and the difference in lifetime earnings between high school and college graduates. Economists and others agree, however, that non-monetary factors also play a major part in the college enrollment decision. Sociologists’ models of status attainment have suggested a number of background variables that join with economic factors to influence college plans. These include both personal traits (e. g. , academic ability) and interpersonal factors, such as the level of encouragement a student receives from parents and teachers. Hossler and Maple (1993) suggest that individual decisions on enrollment can be broken down into three stages: predisposition, search, and choice. According to their research, students who will ultimately attend college can be differentiated from those who will not as early as the ninth grade. Within the econometric and sociological models outlined above, the factors affecting enrollment in college can be divided into two general types: those specific to individual students, such as academic achievement and parental education levels, and those specific to educational or vocational alternatives, such as college tuition, financial aid, and unemployment levels. Students’ enrollment decisions can be viewed as jointly determined by their individual characteristics and the institutional or societal conditions that prevail. We first review individual traits that affect college enrollment, and then institutional determinants. SECTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW 4 MATHTECH, INC. A. INDIVIDUAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT COLLEGE ENROLLMENT Several studies have used data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS72), the National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience, Youth Cohort (NLSY), and the High School and Beyond Survey (HSB) to examine the factors affecting college enrollments. Manski and Wise (1983), Rouse (1994), and a number of others have used the variables included in these data sets to estimate multinomial logit models of enrollment decisions. Among the researchers, there seems to be considerable agreement regarding the individual traits that help to determine enrollment. These traits are discussed below. Manski and Wise (1983) presented a key point, namely that the enrollment process begins with the student’s decision to apply to college. This is much more important than the decisions made by college admissions personnel, since most would-be college students are likely to be admitted to some postsecondary institution of average quality. Jackson (1988) reports that in 1972, more than 97 percent of college applicants were admitted to at least one of their top three choices. The factors of greatest interest, then, are those that cause the student to seek to enroll. Both Manski and Wise (1983) and Rouse (1994) find that individual traits such as achievement levels, high school class rank, and parental education levels are of primary importance in determining the likelihood of a student’s applying to college. They state that higher family income levels increase the probability of application as well, but to a lesser extent. Manski and Wise also cite a â€Å" ‘peer’ or high school quality effect,† such that the larger the share of a high school senior’s classmates who attend 4-year schools, the more likely he or she will be to do the same. A recent NCES report (1997) describes the relationship among six risk factors (such as changing schools two or more times) and PSE attendance rates. St. John and Noell (1989) and St. John (1990) draw similar conclusions from the NLS72 and HSB data sets. St. John and Noell state that certain â€Å"social background variables† appear to make college enrollment more likely. These include higher test scores, higher grades, higher SECTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW 5 MATHTECH, INC. maternal education levels,3 and family income, as cited by Manski and Wise and Rouse. Other key variables include participation in an academic track during high school and â€Å"high postsecondary aspirations,† as measured by students’ reporting of the highest level of schooling they expect to achieve. Hossler and Maple (1993) find that parental education levels have a stronger effect on enrollment plans than student ability or income level. Other background factors that researchers have found to be significant include the level of parental encouragement (Hossler, Braxton, and Coopersmith, 1989) and students’ own expectations about the college decision (Borus and Carpenter, 1984). Jackson (1988) concludes that test scores, grades, taking part in a college preparatory program, and attending a school with many college-going peers are the student attributes most important for college enrollment. Kohn, Manski, and Mundel (1976) report that parents’ education level has a positive effect on a student’s likelihood of enrollment, but state that this effect decreases as family income rises. A number of researchers have examined the effects of family income levels on college enrollment. Manski (1992:16) concludes that there are â€Å"persistent patterns of stratification of college enrollments by income. † Both Manski (1992) and Kane (1995) present census data for multi-year periods that show, for ascending income levels, a steadily increasing percentage of 18to 19-year-old dependent family members enrolled in college. Using the same data source, Clotfelter (1991) and Mortenson and Wu (1990) cite positive income effects for the 18- to 24year-old group as well. Hauser (1993) finds large family income effects on college enrollment for White and Hispanic families, but he finds no such effects for Black families. 3 St. John and Noell do not include paternal education levels as a variable in their study. Manski and Wise and Rouse consider maternal and paternal education levels as separate variables, but present their conclusions in terms of parental education levels as a whole. Most of the studies reviewed here do not distinguish between mother’s and father’s education levels. One exception is the study by Kohn, Manski and Mundel (1976). This study estimates a model using subsamples of the SCOPE survey from two different states. While one group shows that the father’s education level has a greater effect on the likelihood of college attendance than does the mother’s, the other group shows the mother’s education level as having a greater effect. SECTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW 6 MATHTECH, INC. B. INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT COLLEGE ENROLLMENT. In addition to the factors that operate at an individual level, researchers have found a variety of institutional factors, or factors pertaining to educational and vocational alternatives, that affect college enrollment levels. Manski and Wise (1983) include among these factors tuition level, â€Å"quality of school† (as measured by the average combined SAT score of incoming freshmen), and the availability of government and institutional financial aid. Rouse (1994) examines the factor of proximity by estimating changes in enrollments that would result from decreasing the average  distance to the nearest 2-year college. She also considers the effects of tuition levels and financial aid availability, as well unemployment rates, which serve as a measure of competing opportunities available to high school seniors. Tuition levels are another institutional factor with a significant effect on college enrollment. Leslie and Brinkman (1987) review 25 studies on this subject, and find a general consensus that a $100 increase in tuition nationwide, in 1982–1983 academic year dollars, would result in a 6 percent decline in the college participation rate for the 18- to 24-year-old group. Savoca (1990) makes the point that high tuition levels may lessen postsecondary enrollments in the aggregate by discouraging some students from ever applying to college. The effects of tuition levels are moderated in many cases by the effects of financial aid. McPherson and Schapiro (1991) state that the variable of interest should be net cost, or tuition less financial aid. At the initial stages of the enrollment decision, however, students often lack information on their eligibility for financial aid and the amount of aid they would be likely to receive. Researchers have differing views regarding the effects of financial aid on enrollment at different types of institutions. Reyes (1994) finds that increases in financial aid positively affect both 2-year and 4-year college enrollment rates, based on information from the NLSY and HSB. Manski and Wise (1983), using the NLS72, conclude that financial aid affects students’ decisions to attend 2-year institutions, as opposed to not going to college at all. However, this study finds that enrollments at 4-year schools have little sensitivity to the availability of financial aid. Manski and Wise do not consider the effect of financial aid on the student’s choice between a 2-year and a 4-year institution. SECTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW 7 MATHTECH, INC. Other researchers have compared the effects of decreasing tuition with the effects of increasing financial aid. Manski and Wise (1983) find that for those attending 2-year schools, an additional dollar of financial aid would be worth more than a one dollar reduction in tuition. St. John (1990:172) also finds that â€Å"college applicants [are] more responsive to changes in student aid than to changes in tuition,† except for those in the upper income group. Kane (1995), however, argues that while financial aid increases may be more equitable because they are means tested, they are not as effective as decreases in tuition. This is a consequence of the complexity of the financial aid application process and the unwillingness of low income families to borrow to finance a college education. When studying the effect of tuition and financial aid on PSE enrollment, the group to be especially concerned about is low income students. Leslie and Brinkman (1987) and Savoca (1990) find that tuition levels affect enrollment decisions for low income students much more than for middle and upper income groups. By the same token, the availability of financial aid is a much more crucial factor for those at lower income levels. Orfield (1992) notes that the maximum Pell grant is less than one-fifth of the tuition at an elite university. Such a gap between aid and costs, he contends, may steer many low income students toward lower cost schools. Hearn’s 1991 study supports this hypothesis. He finds that when academic ability, achievement, and other factors are controlled for, lower income students are especially likely to choose institutions of lower selectivity. Schwartz (1985) finds that low income students are affected differently by publicly provided financial aid and aid supplied by institutions. He states that public grants tend to promote greater equity among income groups in college enrollment. Private grants, however, are often awarded on the basis of academic ability, and they tend to favor students who could afford to go to college without them. Clotfelter (1991) expresses the same concern about the effects of institutional aid. Manski and Wise (1983) note that even public aid is not always awarded where the need is greatest. They state that in 1979, 59 percent of Basic Educational Opportunity Grants were awarded to students who would probably have gone to college in the absence of such aid. Table 1 summarizes the data sources used in the studies mentioned here. SECTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW 8 MATHTECH, INC. Table 1 MAIN DATA SOURCES FOR WORKS CITED IN LITERATURE REVIEW STUDY Borus, Michael E.and Carpenter, Susan A. , â€Å"Factors Associated with College Attendance of High-School Seniors† (1984) Clotfelter, Charles T. , â€Å"Demand for Undergraduate Education† (1991) Hauser, Robert M. , â€Å"Trends in College Entry among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics† (1993) Hearn, James C. , â€Å"Academic and Nonacademic Influences on the College Destinations of 1980 High School Graduates† (1991) Hossler, Don, Braxton, John and Coopersmith, Georgia, â€Å"Understanding College Choice† (1989). Hossler, Don and Maple, Sue, â€Å"Being Undecided about Postsecondary Education† (1993) Jackson, Gregory A., â€Å"Did College Choice Change during the Seventies? † (1988) Kane, Thomas, â€Å"Rising Public College Tuition and College Entry: How Well Do Public Subsidies Promote Access to College? † (1995) Kohn, Meir G. , Manski, Charles F. , and Mundel, David S. , â€Å"An Empirical Investigation of Factors which Influence College-going Behavior† (1976) Leslie, Larry L. , and Brinkman, Paul T. , â€Å"Student Price Response in Higher Education† (1987) Manski, Charles F. , and Wise, David A. , College Choice in America (1983) Manski, Charles F. , â€Å"Income and Higher Education† (1992) McPherson, Michael S., and Schapiro, Morton Owen, â€Å"Does Student Aid Affect College Enrollment? New Evidence on a Persistent Controversy† (1991) Mortenson, Thomas G. , and Wu, Zhijun, â€Å"High School Graduation and College Participation of Young Adults by Family Income Backgrounds 1970 to 1989† (1990) National Center for Education Statistics. â€Å"Confronting the Odds: Students At Risk and the Pipeline to Higher Education† (1997). MAIN DATA SOURCES 1979 and 1980 National Longitudinal Surveys of Labor Market Experience, Youth Cohort (NLSY) Review of studies done by others, with data from Current Population Survey (CPS) and High. School and Beyond (HSB) CPS HSB, Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) data Review of studies done by others Cluster sample of 5,000 Indiana ninth graders National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS72), HSB NLSY, HSB, CPS School to College: Opportunities for Postsecondary Education (SCOPE) Survey Meta-analysis of studies done by others NLS72 NLS72, HSB, CPS Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) data, CPS HSB, Current Population Report, CPS NELS SECTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW. 9 MATHTECH, INC. STUDY Orfield, Gary, â€Å"Money, Equity, and College Access† (1992) Reyes, Suzanne, â€Å"The College Enrollment Decision: The Role of the Guaranteed Student Loan† (1994) Rouse, Cecilia Elena, â€Å"What to Do after High School: The Two-Year versus Four-Year College Enrollment Decision† (1994) St. John, Edward P. , and Noell, Jay, â€Å"The Effects of Student Financial Aid on Access to Higher Education: An Analysis of Progress with Special Consideration of Minority Enrollment† (1989) St. John, Edward P., â€Å"Price Response in Enrollment Decisions: An Analysis of the High School and Beyond Sophomore Cohort† (1990) Savoca, Elizabeth, â€Å"Another Look at the Demand for Higher Education: Measuring the Price Sensitivity of the Decision to Apply to College† (1990) Schwartz, J. Brad, â€Å"Student Financial Aid and the College Enrollment Decision: The Effects of Public and Private Grants and Interest Subsidies† (1985) Schwartz, J. Brad, â€Å"Wealth Neutrality in Higher Education: The Effects of Student Grants† (1986) MAIN DATA SOURCES Review of history of federal student financial aid programs NLSY, HSB NLSY, HSB, CPS. NLS72, HSB HSB NLS72 HSB, CPS HSB, CPS SECTION II. LITERATURE REVIEW 10 MATHTECH, INC. III. DATA A. NELS DATA While a number of studies have used data from the National Longitudinal Survey, Youth Cohort (NLSY), the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 (NLS72), and the High School and Beyond Survey (HSB) to examine the factors affecting college enrollments, this work effort is among the first to use NELS to analyze these types of issues. In 1988, NELS initially surveyed over 24,000 public and private school eighth graders throughout the United States. The nationally representative eighth grade cohort was tested in four subjects (mathematics, reading, science, and social studies). Two teachers of each student (representing two of the four subjects) were also surveyed, as was an administrator from each school. On average, each of the 1,052 participating schools was represented by 24 students and five teachers. Parents were also surveyed, providing researchers with detailed information on family background variables. Since 1988, the initial eighth grade cohort has been re-surveyed three times (and has been â€Å"freshened† with new sample members). The first follow-up of NELS (spring, 1990), included the same components as the base year study, with the exception of the parent survey, which was not implemented in the 1990 round. It also included a component on early dropouts (those who left school between the end of eighth grade and the end of 10th grade). The second follow-up (spring, 1992), repeated all components of the first follow-up study and also included a parent questionnaire. However, this time only one teacher of each student (either a mathematics or a science teacher) was asked to complete a teacher questionnaire. High school transcript data were also collected for these students. A subsample of the NELS:88 second follow-up sample was again followed-up in the spring of 1994, when most sample members had been out of high school for 2 years. In all, 14,915 students were surveyed, most through computer-assisted telephone interviewing. Major content areas for the third follow-up questionnaire were: education histories; work experience histories; work-related training; family formation; opinions and other experiences; occurrence or SECTION III. DATA 11 MATHTECH, INC. non-occurrence of significant life events; and income. Data collection for this wave began on February 4, and ended on August 13, 1994. At the time the data were collected, most of the respondents were 2 years out of high school. Table 2 summarizes the components of the different waves of the surveys. Table 2 OVERVIEW OF NELS NELS Components Grades included Cohort Base Year Spring term 1988 grade 8 students: questionnaire, tests questionnaire questionnaire two teachers per student (taken from reading, mathematics, science, or social studies) First Follow-up Spring term 1990 modal grade = sophomore students, dropouts: questionnaire, tests none questionnaire two teachers per student (taken from reading, mathematics, science, or social studies) Second Follow-up Spring term 1992 modal grade = senior students, dropouts: questionnaire, tests, H. S.  transcripts questionnaire questionnaire one teacher per student (taken from mathematics or science). Third Follow-up Spring 1994 H. S. + 2 years all individuals: questionnaire none none none Parents Principals Teachers B. NPSAS DATA Because the NELS database does not contain detailed information on financial aid, the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) database is used to supplement our study with additional financial aid information. This database is used to predict financial aid for the respondents in NELS based on demographic and other characteristics that are available in both databases. NPSAS is constructed specifically to provide information on financing of postsecondary education, so it is a good candidate for this use. This database surveys a nationally representative sample of undergraduate, graduate, and first-professional students attending less than 2-year, 2-year, 4-year, and doctoral granting institutions. Both students who receive and those who do not receive financial aid are surveyed. SECTION III. DATA 12 MATHTECH, INC. The 1993 NPSAS study collected information on more than 78,000 undergraduate and graduate students at about 1,100 institutions. To be eligible, students must have been enrolled between May 1, 1992 and April 30, 1993 at a postsecondary institution in the United States or Puerto Rico. The students had to be enrolled in courses for credit, and in a program of 3 months or longer. Also eligible for inclusion were students who received a bachelor’s degree between July 1, 1992 and June 30, 1993. Students who were enrolled in a GED program or who were also enrolled in high school were not included. C. SAMPLE AND WEIGHTS Of the 14,915 respondents in the third NELS follow-up, 13,120 are represented in all four waves of the NELS data. The remaining 1,795 respondents are either first follow-up â€Å"freshened† students,4 second follow-up freshened students,5 base-year ineligibles,6 or base-year eligible students who declined to participate in one or more of the survey waves, but who did participate in the third survey wave. The breakdown of these 1,795 respondents is as follows: 501 first follow-up freshened students, 102 second follow-up freshened students, 271 base-year ineligibles, and 921 base-year eligibles with missing survey waves. To take advantage of the longitudinal nature of the NELS data and to be consistent across models and issues in the report, we focus our work on the sample of 13,120 respondents represented in all four waves of the NELS data. Consequently, the weight used in our analyses, (â€Å"F3PNLWT†) applies to sample members who completed questionnaires in all four rounds of NELS:88. As a result, the longitudinal analyses that we conduct, and the estimates that are produced in this study can only be used to make projections to the population of spring 1988 eighth graders. In the descriptive tables, all percentages are weighted using F3PNLWT, including the analyses with the high school transcript data. Those who were tenth graders in 1990 but were not in the base-year sampling frame, either because they were not in the country or because they were not in the eighth grade in the spring term of 1988. Those who were 12th graders in 1992 but were not in either the base year or first follow-up sampling frames, either because they were not in the country or because they were not in the eighth (10th) grade in the spring term of 1988 (1990). 6 5 4 Students excluded in 1988 due to linguistic, mental, or physical obstacles to participation. 13 SECTION III. DATA MATHTECH, INC. This sample includes dropouts, since the purpose of this study is to examine the overall question of what characteristics of eighth graders in 1988 are related to PSE attendance. We focus on early indicators, such as educational expectations and course-taking behavior in the eighth grade, and not on the â€Å"pipeline† of high school experiences that a dropout would lack access to. However, the dropouts were not asked the same set of survey questions as the other respondents, and, therefore, some of the analysis does not include dropouts. For each of our tables or figures, we note whether or not the dropouts are included in the analysis. D. CORRECTED STANDARD ERRORS Because NELS data are collected through a multi-stage sampling scheme, calculation of standard errors through standard methods can understate these errors. The sampling technique used in NELS is a selection of schools, and then within schools, a selection of students. With this sampling method, the observations of different students may not be independent from one another. Stataâ„ ¢, the statistical software used for analysis in this report, corrects the standard errors for these sampling techniques. Except for multinomial logit models, for which this correction is not available, survey correction techniques are used, and we note whenever the corrections are not used. However, we have found that such corrections do not have a large effect on our results, and therefore, we present all results with confidence. E. VARIABLE DEFINITIONS. The appendix to this study contains definitions of the key variables used in our analysis. For each key variable, we describe how we constructed the variable and we list the names of the NELS variables used in the construction. SECTION III. DATA 14 MATHTECH, INC. IV. WHO GOES TO COLLEGE? A. WHAT PROPORTION OF STUDENTS ATTEND COLLEGE, AND WHAT TYPE OF COLLEGE DID THEY ATTEND? We begin our analysis by examining the demographics of postsecondary school choice and discussing our main findings regarding college attendance rates and types of postsecondary education (PSE) attended. As shown in Table 3, a majority of 1988 eighth graders attend some type of PSE by 1994. Overall, 62. 7 percent of the respondents attend PSE. (Note that in all of the tables in this report, all percentages are weighted. ) Students are most likely to attend a 4-year public or a less than 4-year public school. Approximately 24 percent of the students attend each of these types of schools. Next most common are 4-year private schools. Just over 11 percent of the respondents attend 4-year private schools. Only 4 percent of the respondents attend less than 4-year private schools. Thirty-seven percent of the respondents do not attend any type of PSE. Women are slightly more likely than men to attend PSE. While 60 percent of men attend PSE, 65 percent of women attend. Women are more likely than men to attend 4-year private schools and less than 4-year private schools. Native Americans, Blacks, and Hispanics are least likely to attend PSE and Asians and Pacific Islanders are most likely to attend PSE. Hispanics are most likely to attend less than 4year private schools. Students whose parents have higher education levels are much more likely to attend PSE. While only 33 percent of students whose parents have less than a high school education attend PSE, 90 percent of students whose parents have an advanced degree attend PSE. SECTION IV. WHO GOES TO COLLEGE? 15 MATHTECH, INC. Table 3 DEMOGRAPHICS OF POSTSECONDARY SCHOOL CHOICE1 No PSE 4-Year Public 4-Year Private.