What are the main characteristics of a successful piece of academic Essay

What are the main characteristics of a successful piece of academic writing as submitted for a university assessment - Essay Example The extensive source of knowledge through acute reference to databases would be the only solution for the information mining. Once the information is gathered it is vital in the case of an academic paper to analyze the information so as to form scientifically justifiable observations and conclusions. A successful piece of academic writing however demands much in terms of style of writing and the research involved. The important characteristics of a quality academic paper are as following An academic paper will have to adhere with many benchmarks as set by the concerned academic authority. Compliance with academic standards, working in accordance with the objectives and properly formatted documentation would be vital in determining the quality of an academic paper. Considering the importance of an academic paper as key document in a particular reserach and taking into account the way this can affect the branch of science dealt with, much emphasis has to be paid on the quality of academic papers. However the difficulty level in the stipulations can differ among different academic authorities. The time management process so as to be able to finish the work within the stipulated deadline is also important. Different academic authorities demand the academic paper to be written in specified style of writing. This requirement however depends on the kind of paper to be written. The nature of science involved with the paper would determine the academic style in which the paper is to be written. The most common academic writing styles include Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA), Chicago Manual of Style (CMA), Council of Science Editors (CSE), Turabian, American Sociological association (ASA), American Anthropological Association (AAA) and Havard style (CSU, 2006). These styles have been standardized by various organizations so that the papers written by experts across the

Poor Project Leadership And Lack Of Motivation Management Essay

Poor Project Leadership And Lack Of Motivation Management Essay Leadership is a significant factor in the whole project process. A good leadership will lead to project success. A poor project leadership will cause failure in the project. Project leader who is responsible to the project is someone that sets direction and influences people to follow that direction. Many project leaders were selected because of their education background rather than their experiences. The result is, the project leader will lead the project that exceeds their capabilities. Poor project leadership also the result of project leader that does not see the opportunity and does not listening to the people. One secret to successful project implementation is the project leaders ability to get the diverse background, education and experiences of project team members performing at maximal effectiveness. Consequently, the project leader must be both a leader and a motivator. Poor project leadership was a leading factor of the company failure. A leads behaviours such as excessive ego often lead to a poor project leadership. The lack of leadership skill will result in people get demotivated and eventually reduce their work performance. And because, a project leader does not have a clear vision of the market trend such as soaring of oil prices and credit crunch, the project will cost more and will be delayed. Lack of Motivation According to William R.King (1998) page 756, stated that motivation is important to the project manager from two perspectives. First, the individual must be motivated to be a project manager. If one does not have sufficient intrinsic motivation to take the types of managerial steps required, then one is not likely to success at the project management task. Second, the project manager must be able to motivate others. For this it is crucial that the project manager have an adequate understanding of motivation and techniques for motivating others. Lack of motivation is one of the project failure factors. It will be crucial, if a project leader is demotivated because it can directly influence the project team and give impact to organisational performance. Lack of motivation can be the result of many factors such as company policies, work condition and salary. Lack of motivation equates to less work being accomplished by the employee. The productivity of the employee will transfer to something that does not relate to projects work. Things like internet surfing, personal chat and taking longer lunches cost the organisation time and money. Low employee motivation could be the result of decreased success of the organisation, abrupt changes in organization and economic downturn. No matter what the cause, while working in unpleasant work environment due to lack employee motivation will give an impact to the existing and potential clients and partners. A reputation can be tainted and dictate its future in the industry. Employees are like lifeline to the company. When they are highly motivated, they will do whatever is necessary to achieve the targets and maintain the company stability. An organisation whose employees have low motivation is completely prone to challenges because its employee are not going extra mile to maintain the companys stability. The space shuttle Columbia disaster One of the top project failures cause by poor leadership is Columbia disaster. Columbia was one of the space shuttle owned by NASA. Amy Donahue (2004) stated that on January 16, the Columbia with her crew of seven was lunched to begin a scientific research mission. Sixteen days later, Columbia and her crew were lost during re-entered the earths atmosphere with unknown damage to her left wing. Columbia broke up over the western United states at 200 000 feet and 12 000 miles per hour. Columbias disintegration was both a tragedy and a disaster. A tragedy because the lives of seven heroic astronauts and their lifes work of countless engineers were lost that morning. And a disaster because more than 87 000 pounds of debris from the shuttle was strewn over 2000 square miles of east Texas and western Louisiana. Some material was as small as postage stamps but other pieces weighed some 800 pounds and came in at upward of 1 600 miles per hour, angering several feet into the ground. Just after the 2003 tragedy occurred many experts concluded that technology was to blame. But a more thorough and comprehensive investigation, undertaken by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board, CAIB, concluded differently. It maintained that management was as much to blame for the failure as was the foam strike. The Board described an organizational culture in which, at every juncture, program managers were resistant to new information. It was a culture in which people were unwilling to speak up or if they did speak up were never heard. In their report they wrote that the organizational failure was a product of NASAs history, its culture, and its politics. (Columbia Accident Investigation Board, 2003). Engineers requested inspection by crew or remote photo imagery to check for the damage but no actions were taken to ensure space shuttle integrity. Management, however, was apparently confident that there was no safety issue and a decision was made against imagery. Had the imagery been authorized, and the damage discovered, the conjecture is that a rescue attempt would have had a reasonable chance of success. The project leader didnt take the advice from his engineer and still proceed with his decision. Senior management also ignored the flight data from the previous mission where foam had broken on every lunch. This is a typical example of poor project leadership. On top of these problems, the initial leadership structure was diffuse, with federal state and local field offices, operations canters and command posts all directing of the operation. Figure 1 : Foam strike detected in launch Taken from www.aiche.org/uploadedFiles/CCPS//Presentation_Rev_newv4.ppt Denver International Airport Baggage handling System On top of that, one of good example of project failure that caused by poor project planning and poor risk management was Denver International baggage handling system. According to Dr.R.de. Neufuille (1994) Denvers baggage handling system was the worlds largest automated airport baggage handling system. Faced with the need for greater airport capacity, the city of Denver elected to construct a new state of the art airport that would cement Denvers position as an air transportation hub. Covering a land area of 140 Km2, the airport was to be the largest in the United States and have the capacity to handle more than 50m passengers annually The airports baggage handling system was a critical component in the plan. By automating baggage handling, aircraft turnaround time was to be reduced to as little as 30 minutes. Faster turnaround meant more efficient operations and was a cornerstone of the airports competitive advantage. Despite the good intention, the project complexity was underestimated and was delayed by 16 months and cost the city of Denver USD 1.1 Million per day. After ten years of opening, the system never worked well and in august 2005, United Airlines has abandoned the system completely. The root of this failure was Denver international airport failed to estimate the complexity involved. The system which was the first in the world and 10 times larger than any other automated baggage handling system. The project team estimated the project can be done in two years but it took almost four years to complete. Because of the complexity involved, the airport management does not provide enough trolley in case the system failed .They were overconfidence that the project wills success. The system that worked on 100 individual PC that were connected together have no back up if one PC failed to operate. The system also was unable to detect any jams in the system and instead the system keeps piling more and more baggage making the jam much worse. Another project failure factor was poor in risk management. The project encountered a massive technical problem but not action has been taken. The most significant issue was, the system suffered from electrical shock, To resolve this problem, a filter is used in the electrical circuit to prevent current surge. But the delivery and installation of the filter took several months. Such issues were predictable if the project team more focused on risk management. Figure 2 : Denver baggage handling system Taken from http://calleam.com/WTPF/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/denverbag5.jpg Motivation From the PMBOK 4th Edition (2008) page 418 motivating in a project environment involves creating an environment to meet project objectives while offering maximum self-satisfaction related to what people value most. These values may include job satisfaction, challenging work, a sense of accomplishment, achievement and growth, sufficient financial compensation, and other rewards and recognition the individual considers necessary and important. Motivation is the task of the project manager. He has to provide motivation for his project team. He has to motivate them individually and collectively, that they each may produce their best-and then excel even more. The essential tools in the project managers kitbag for the motivation of his team are: Approval, praise and recognition-These will encourage people to do work and keep the focus Trust, respect and high expectation-Trust is the fundamental of project success. The leader should put trust on his people and in return, people will feel encourage to work Job enrichment Good communication-Communication is simply a two communication between top and bottom. A leader should listen for any suggestion from his employees. Most of the project failure was caused by the breakdown in communication structure. With a good communication system between project leader and workers, any problem can be resolved Cash incentives-Money is a good motivator. Good salary and incentive based on performance will encourage people to go extra mile. The project manager has a much better chance of success if he uses persuasion rather than coercion. The former build morale and initiative, whilst the latter quite effectively kills such qualities. Three basic components in persuasion are: 1. Suggestion 2.Playing the persons sentiments 3.Appealing to their logic. Using these tactics, the project manager will achieve his goal quietly, gently with the minimum of real effort. It is, in effect, an effortless achievement. The project leader has a great role to play in respect of the productivity of his team and through them, the productivity of the whole site. It is on this the actual productivity of the people on the site-that the success of his project finally rest. Productivity is an abstract concept and very controversial indeed. According to William R.King (1988) page 764 one very useful model for explaining the changes that have occurred in human motivation over the years is that developed by Abraham Moslow. Maslows hierarchy argues that mans needs come in an ordered sequence that is arranged in the following five need categories: 1.Physical needs : the foods, water ,air 2.Safety needs : the needs for security, stability and freedom from threat to physical safety. 3.Love needs : the need for friend with whom one may affiliate. 4. Esteem needs : the need for self-respect and esteem of others. This includes recognition, attention and appreciation from others. 5.Self-actualization needs: The need for self-fulfilment to be able tp grow and learn The project leader must be able to assess where each of his subordinate and co-workers are on the hierarchy and attempt to appeal to the appropriate needs. some people crave status and recognition. Others wand strongly to be a member of a cohesive team and to belong Herzberg has suggested that they are two types of motivational factors: hygiene factors and motivators .He suggest that the hygiene factors are necessary condition for a satisfied workers, but do not guarantee satisfaction. The hygiene factors include Company policy and administration Supervision Relationship With supervisor Working condition Salary Personal llife Relationship with peers Status Security In other words, the hygiene factors satisfy the lower level maslow needs. On the other hand, there are motivators which are factors that account for satisfaction in the worker. the motivators include Achievement Recognition Work itsef Responsibility Advancement Growth As a conclusion, motivation is a must that drive people to work. Motivation also has to do with human factors. People are willing to do work if they feel comfortable to do it and fell appreciated with their work. Leadership From the PMBOK 4th Edition (2008) page 417 leadership involves focusing the efforts of a group of people toward a common goal and enabling them to work as a team. In general terms, leadership is the ability to get things done through others. Respect and trust, rather than fear and submission, are the key elements of effective leadership. Although important throughout all project phases, effective leadership is critical during the beginning phases of a project when the emphasis is on communicating the vision and motivating and inspiring project participants to achieve high performance. A good leader always lead by example and make the people work under him feel pleasant. According to William R.King (1988) page 741, leadership behaviour can be divided into task behaviour (one way communication) and relationship behaviour (two way communications).These principles of leadership present s variety of sometimes conflicting premises which make it difficult to select appropriate behaviours in practise. Throughout the project, the project team leaders are responsible for establishing and maintaining the vision, strategy, and communications; fostering trust and team building; influencing, mentoring, and monitoring; and evaluating the performance of the team and the project. If the project leader plays a main role, the project will run smoothly. The good concept off leadership will determine whether the project wills success or not. By implementing the basic techniques of leadership, the people that work for the project will put their heart on work. People at lower level also have right to speak up if the feel something wrong with the project. By taking into account various opinions a final decision can be made by the project leader

My Grandmother: A Powerful Woman Essay -- Personal Narrative

My Grandmother: A Powerful Woman Stella Stefanides was born fifty-four years ago in a small village by the Greek-Bulgarian border. Her life reads like a fictional story about deprivation, loss, love and hardships. This woman, whom I am referring to happens to be my grandmother. Her life is truly inspiring because she has overcome many difficulties and continues to be the glue that holds my family together. Stella was born in the time of the civil war in Greece. Her parents had many babies but they would all die after being removed from their mothers’ womb, which was very common at the time due to the lack of medical assistance. After dealing with the death of five babies, Theano, Stella's mom, was convinced that her dreams of having children were never to be realized. Even as a baby, Stella was a fighter. She fought for her little life and won. That's where she got her name "Stiliani," which means strong in Greek. That name truly captures the essence of her. Growing up was hard. Dealing with the war, the conflicts, the poverty, Stella, just like any other child, had to work. Because she is a female, school was not a priority. Although she wanted to help her family, she insisted on going to school. Craving to learn something new, to explore the world beyond her village borders; she told her parents that she would never leave school. She was willing and able to do both. They agree d, as long as it wouldn't interfere with her work. Deep down inside, her parents were happy that they had a headstrong, smart daughter. School and work weren't easy for Stella. Adding to the picture was a new brother, Savva. Taking care of him while her parents were at the fields became her responsibility. The responsibilities of school, work, takin... ...oss and makes all the decisions. Every customer and community member knows and loves "Mamma Stella." She listens, smiles and is always ready with a kind word and a hug. She yells when you don't finish your food and is generous with goods she bakes in her kitchen. Stella is an individual who fully embodies the "American Dream." She has had to fight to get where she is and she is passionate about staying there. Her family always comes first and their problems are hers. Stella is admired by many for her love, strength and fierce determination. These qualities were given to her so that she would make a difference in people's lives. She has taken those tools in hand and successfully crafted an amazing life for herself and her family. I am honored and lucky that Grandma Stella is a part of my life. She inspires me to achieve great things. I am who I am because of her.

Homework&Elementary school Essay

Homework can be defined as the tasks given to the students by their class teachers, which has to be completed outside of the class. Homework usually has features that some amount of reading should be performed, writing to be completed, problems to be solved, and other skills to be practiced based on the nature of the assignments. Homework could be designed carefully to fulfill the needs of the academic curriculum, and prepare the students for upcoming lessons, extend what they know by having them apply it to new situations, or to integrate their abilities by applying many different skills to a single task. Homework also provides an opportunity for parents to participate in their children’s education (Richards-Babb, Drelick, Henry, & Robertson-Honecker, 2011). Purposes of Homework The purpose of the homework is that it should reinforce ideas, concepts, and knowledge of the subject matter taught. It is necessary in case of teaching a subject such as math, physics or chemistry. Through homework, students should review and practice what they have learned in the classroom, and prepare for the forthcoming lesson. It should offer to the students to study a subject in depth. Homework should let students investigate on their own, and learn how to find answers to questions. It should allow students build, work as a team, on their own time, with their own schedule. So that they can plan out themselves how much effort they need to supply in order to carry out the assignments successfully (Homework: is it worth it?, 2012). Home work also helps the teacher for the continuous monitor and evaluation of the progress of the students. Homework facilitates teachers to find out student’s organizational skills, time management. Another purpose of the homework is that it makes the students to be responsible and accountable. It should create an opportunity for parents to involve in their child’s learning and progress. Homework strengthens the home-school links (Heitzmann, 2007). Amounts of Homework The amount of homework varies based on the course and the ability level of the students. An investigation conducted by the United States Bureau of the Census (1984) found that â€Å"public elementary school students reported  spending an average of 4.9 hours and private school elementary students 5.5 hours a week on homework. Public high school students reported doing 6.5 hours and private school students 14.2 hours (Mendicino, Razzaq, & Heffernan, 2009). Recent research studies by the Brown Center on Education Policy concluded that the majority of U.S. students (83% of nine-year-olds; 66% of thirteen-year-olds; 65% of seventeen-year-olds) spend less than an hour a day on homework, and this has held true for most of the past 50 years. In the last 20 years, homework has increased only in the lower grade levels, where it least matters (and indeed, may be counterproductive)† (â€Å"Homework: is it worth it?† 2012). Amounts of Homework As a saying revels ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’, too much time spending on homework may lightly have the negative effects. It is said that generally homework does appear to result in higher levels of achievement for older students (at the secondary level). At the same time to the students aged between 11 to13, homework appears to be of benefit, but not to the same degree as for older students. For these students, spending more than an hour or two on homework does not result in greater benefit. So, it is a vital factor for the teacher to ensure that homework assignments are an appropriate length for the developmental level of their students (Too Much Homework Can Be Counterproductive, 2005). In America, NEA and the National PTA recommendations are in line with those suggested by Harris Cooper: 10 to 20 minutes per night in the first grade, and an additional 10 minutes per grade level thereafter (giving 2 hours for 12th grade). In Britain, the Government has laid down guidelines, recommending that children as young as five should do up to an hour a week of homework on reading, spelling and numbers, rising to 1.5 hours per week for 8-9 year olds, and 30 minutes a day for 10-11 year olds. The primary motivation for the Government policy on this seems to be a hope that this will reduce the time children spend watching TV, and, presumably, instill good study habits. Two researchers from Penn State say that instead of improving educational achievement in countries around the world, increases in homework may actually undercut teaching effectiveness and worsen disparities in student learning (Too much homework can be counterproductive, 2005). Effects of homework Harris Cooper, Ph.D., a psychology professor at the University of Missouri, has reviewed more than 100 studies on the effectiveness of homework. In general, he has found that the benefits of doing homework seem to depend on the student’s grade level. He also points out that â€Å"In high school, students who regularly do homework outperform those who do not, as measured by standardized tests and grades. In middle school, homework is half as effective, and in elementary school it has no apparent measurable effect on achievement† (Molland, 2012). Students’ self regulation processes also developed through the homework along with its effect on academic achievements. Zimmerman says that Self-regulation of learning involves learners setting goals, selecting appropriate learning strategies, maintaining motivation, and monitoring and evaluating academic progress Darshanand Ramdass and Barry J. Zimmerman (2011) points out that â€Å" a longitudinal study with fifth-grade students showed that doing homework fosters self-regulation skills and reading achievement†. Types of homework Academically, there are four kinds of assignments or homework. They are, practice homework, preparation homework, extension homework and creative homework. Practice homework meant for repeating the same kind of work again and again in order to remember a skill, especially while learning mathematics, vocabulary and spelling. Preparation homework intended to the preparation of the next day lesson. The purpose of extension homework is to make the students to be able to connect and separate topics. Creative homework is a challenging one which meant for using different skills to show what the students have learned in the classroom. Online Homework

How well does the opening section of London Tonight cater for your needs? Essay

For this piece of work I have decided to work on the news program ‘London Tonight’. It is broadcasted on ITV at 18:30 on a daily basis. It is shown at this time as it is after the BBC News which starts at 18:00. Once the commercials from the previous programme has finished the start of London Tonight is shown. This opening section is very important as it must grab the attention of the viewer to make them keep watching the show. They do this in numerous ways. They need to let their viewers no what their watching so the opening scenes are always the same, they have the same music and graphics and starts the show by saying the headlines. They begin with the main headlines followed by the sports headline. This is to let the viewer know what is about to be shown. It also needs to show who the news is aim towards. For example if it were aimed to children then the opening scene would be like that of ‘Newsround’ and the language used would not be of a high vocabulary and would be informal. London Tonight is aimed at adults and therefore it is more formal and serious than on Newsround. London Tonight show the opening scene very well as it kept me concentrating on the news and nothing else. The presenters on London Tonight are dressed formally as it is tailored towards adults and they must look smart. The news is presented quite seriously when it comes to serious matters but not so serious when the sports is shown. This may be as they want the audience to take the Main headlines seriously. They want the audience to relax more when showing the sport as it’s not as serious as the issues brought up in the main headlines. Everyone has different expectations from the news and therefore the news must be directed at a certain audience. This is done by what headlines is shown on the news programme. The main headline in London Tonight was on the Taliban and how they wanted American and British soldiers out of the country and were burning down schools and libraries.. This was a certain report I was interested in as it relates to me. This was not the only reason I carried on watching, the crew who had been filming had no protection at all and had even come across the Taliban who were armed. The Taliban were threatening to attack and soon enough the police had come. We can see from this report that it managed to grab the viewer’s attention in many ways. The film crew managed to capture a school which had been burnt down, at first you think this is the interesting part of the report, but then we see the Taliban rushing in firing their guns and then the police rushing in. This particular scene had some ‘action’ in which would have kept viewers fixed on the channel. To see this would have been a shock to the public and it is very rare to come across the Taliban especially while trying to film on a show. As this is a real life situation the audience is fixed to what is happening especially as there is mentioning of an attack on video footage. Once the video had been shown the presenters started to discuss the report and went into much depth of why the Taliban were doing what they did. They also showed a little bit about Saddam Hussains trial as there is a connection with the headline of the Taliban. Other news articles that were shown were those of the follow ups on a bank robbery which had occurred. This was the main headline a few days back and therefore were keeping the audience updated with the subject, this is another reason people would carry on watching. As they would have heard about this in the news recently they would like to be kept updated so showing this again would grab the attention of news watchers again. More headlines are shown and is then followed by the sport, this is part of the news I enjoy as I am a big sports fan. The sport for me was not as good as I thought it would have been. It showed about the rugby and football and also about the 2012 olympics campaign. Although it showed about the Champions League matches in the football it did not go into great depth about it and therefore didn’t get my attention as much and the 2012 campaign I felt was a little boring. This is because the 2012 olympics is going to be held in London and therefore they thought this would be good to show on the London Tonight. As the news doesn’t concentrate that much about sport this could be why I didn’t find it as interesting. Overall I think the news programme was quite a success. It had managed to get my attention from the start and keep me interested. The setting was quite good as it showed Big Ben in the background giving it the London feel. The presenters weren’t too serious but yet manage to get the news across to the audience in the right way. There were many camera angles as to which the news presenters were shown which didn’t make it boring always looking in one direction. The headlines reported were of good interest to a wide variety of audiences but I think it is aimed more at young adults as it seems quite active. It tailored the needs of the audience very well as it not only showed London news but world wide affairs too. The only problem with the news programme would be that serious sport fans would not get a very in depth report on the news but they will get the main sport headlines. So in conclusion a very well put together news programme.

A Guide to German Toasts

A Guide to German Toasts The origin of the English word toast- in the sense of drink a toast to someone- has several explanations. According to most sources, a drinking toast (a word also used in German) is related to roasted bread, aka toast. Websters says the word is derived from the use of toasted spiced bread to flavor the wine [during a toast], and the notion that the person honored also added flavor. Other sources claim that the word is derived from the 18th century English custom of covering a glass of hot spiced wine with a slice of toast as it was passed around the table. Each person lifted the toast, took a sip of wine, said a few words, and passed the glass on. When the glass reached the person being toasted, the honoree got to eat the toast. Prost!Ein Toast! The German equivalents of Cheers! or Bottoms up! are Prost! or Zum Wohl! But longer, more formal toasts (Trinksprà ¼che, (kurze) Tischreden) are common on special occasions such as marriage, retirement, or a birthday. A birthday toast almost always includes Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! (or nowadays even an English Happy Birthday!), but a real birthday toast would expand on that with more good wishes, such as this humorous jab: Hoffentlich hast du soviel Spaß an deinem Geburtstag, dass du ihn von nun an jhrlich feierst! Alles Gute zum Geburtstag! (I hope you have so much fun on your birthday that youll celebrate it annually from now on! Happy birthday!) The Irish seem to be a bountiful and universal source of toasts and good wishes. Germans have borrowed many Irish sayings  like the well-known May the road rise to meet you... Although German-speakers often use it in English, there are German translations. This is one German version (author unknown) that  comes closer than most: Mà ¶ge dir dein Weg leicht werdenMà ¶ge dir der Wind immer von hinten kommenMà ¶ge dir die Sonne warm ins Gesicht scheinenMà ¶ge dir ein sanfter Regen auf die Felder fallenund bis wir uns wiedersehenmà ¶ge Gott dich in seiner Hand halten. Germans also like to send shorter greetings via  text to each other on their Handys (mobile phones). There are many Web sites in German with sample text messages that can also be used for toasts. Heres a typical example: Die allerbesten Geburtstagswà ¼nsche send/wà ¼nsch ich dir,sie kommen vom Herzen, sie kommen von mir. Selected Toasts and Good Wishesin German and English Heres how you say Id like to propose a toast to (name)!:Ich mà ¶chte  einen  Toast  auf  (Namen)  ausbringen! Allgemein(General) Genieße das Leben stndig!Du bist lnger  tot als  lebendig!Constantly enjoy life!Youre longer dead than alive! Hundert Jahre sollst du leben und dich freuen,und dann noch ein extra Jahr- zum Bereuen.Darauf  erhebe  ich  mein  Glas: Prost!May you live to be a hundred years,With one extra year to repent.To  that  I raise my glass: Cheers! (Irish) Mà ¶gest du  alle  Tage  deines  Lebens  leben!- Zum Wohl!May you live all the days of your life!- Cheers! (Irish) Erst  mach dein Sachdann  trink und  lach!First  take care of business,then drink and laugh! Solange man nà ¼chtern ist,gefllt das Schlechte.Wie man  getrunken  hat,weiss  man das Rechte.- J.W. GoetheWhen one is sober,the bad can appeal.When one has taken a drink,One knows whats real.- J.W. Goethe Das Leben ist  bezaubernd, man  muss es  nur  durch  die  richtige  Brille  sehen.Life ist wonderful, you just need to see it through the right glasses. Mà ¶ge dir dein Weg leicht werdenMà ¶ge dir der Wind immer von hinten kommenMà ¶ge dir die Sonne warm ins Gesicht scheinenMà ¶ge dir ein sanfter Regen auf die Felder fallenund bis wir uns wiedersehenmà ¶ge Gott dich in seiner Hand halten.May the road rise to meet you.May the wind be always at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your face.And rains fall soft upon your fields.And until we meet again,May God hold you in the hollow of His hand. Geburtstag (Birthday) Du merkst, dass du lter wirst, wenn die Kerzen mehr kosten als der Kuchen!You know youre getting older when the candles cost more than the cake! Mit dem Alter ist es wie mit dem Wein, es muss ein guter Jahrgang sein!With age its the same as with wine: it has to be a good year! Man sieht mit Grauen ringsherumdie Leute werden alt und dumm.Nur du und ich- auch noch als Greisebleiben jung und werden weise.One sees with shock all aroundthe people getting old and dumb.Only you and I- even as oldstersstay young and become wise. Die allerbesten Geburtstagswà ¼nsche send ich dir,sie kommen vom Herzen, sie kommen von mir.All the best birthday wishes I send to theeThey come from the heart, they come from me. Hochzeit (Wedding) Jeder hà ¶rt die Musik anders- aber der gemeinsame Tanz ist wunderbar.Everyone hears the music differently- but the dance together is wonderful. Die Ehe ist die wichtigste Entdeckungsreise, die der Mensch unternehmen kann.Marriage is the most important voyage of discovery a person can embark upon. Jeder sieht ein Stà ¼ckchen Welt, gemeinsam sehen wir die ganze.Each of us sees a part of the world; together we see all of it. Ruhestand (Retirement) So wà ¼nsch ich dir von ganzem Herzen,tglich Glà ¼ck und keine Schmerzen,viel Ruhe und Gemà ¼tlichkeit,denn du als Rentner- hast nun Zeit!Thus I wish you from the bottom of my heartdaily happiness and no pain,much peace and cozy comfort,because  you as a retiree- now have the time! Mit der Zeit brauchst du nicht sparen, kannst sogar ins Ausland fahren. Ist das Ziel auch noch so weit, Du bist Rentnegerman- du hast Zeit!You dont have to worry about saving time,You can even travel abroad.If the destination is far away,Youre a retiree- you have the time! Abschied/Trauer(Farewell/Mourning) Dem Leben sind Grenzen gesetzt,die Liebe ist grenzenlos.Life has limits, butlove has no bounds. Der Tod ist ihm zum Schlaf geworden,aus dem er zu neuem Leben erwacht.Death has become his sleepfrom which he awakes to new life.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Plagiarism is referred to as literary theft and academic dishonesty, which usually occurs when someone copies the work, ideas and opinions of another author and expresses them as though they are his own without giving credit to the originator. It is very common among higher learning academicians especially when doing write ups for their projects, term papers or thesis.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Plagiarism is a very serious offence and it can attract penalties since copyright takes authors words as his own property and the author has rights to sue in the court of law in case of plagiarism. Plagiarizing not only involves written materials but also piracy in music and other properties. On the other hand academic integrity refer to a situation whereby students in higher learning institution hold highly on the moral values academics and do their work honestly without cheating (Drinan and Gallant, 2010). It encourages acts of independent learning and critical thinking (White, Owens, and Nguyen 2007). To maintain academic integrity, academicians should avoid acts of dishonesty, cheating, plagiarism among others. Institutions of higher learning should encourage academic integrity since it really helps students to develop academically and it makes it easy for them to face all kinds of challenges in their area of study. Academicians give several reasons for plagiarizing some of which include: to help a friend, time pressure, extenuating circumstances, peer pressure, to increase the mark, monetary reward, fear of failure, everybody does it, laziness, lack of research skills, institution admission criteria, poor academic skills, student understanding of plagiarism, external pressure to succeed, careless tutors and invigilators, among others (Devlin and Gray, 2007). Other reasons may be the advanced technology where by information is r eadily available online, financial problems where the student cannot afford resource materials, and low chance of being caught. Let us look at some of these reasons in details. The following essay will show clearly what academic integrity entails, the reason behind plagiarism and how academicians may overcome it to maintain academic integrity.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Peer Pressure Peer pressure is a very common scenario in many learning institutions and many students are not able to curb the challenge effectively (Devlin and Gray, 2007). International students are likely to fall to peer-pressure than local ones since they may be seeking comfort and friendship in a place far away from home where they are not familiar with most places and lifestyle. Peer pressure maybe as a result of several factors. For example, a student may be working very hard to do an assignment h onestly but on realizing that most of her classmates are plagiarizing, he/she may prone to do it too. In other instances, the local students in to adventure and having fun may easily influence international students and since they are new to the environment, they may have fun at the expense of the assignment leading to plagiarizing (Vermaat, 2008, Peer, 2009). Time management International students in higher learning institutions are usually involved in many activities such as jobs, family responsibilities and may be having many units to cover. This is because most of them are usually far away from their families thus they have to cater for their basic needs as they learn. For instance, most of the international students in the institutions of higher learning do their studies part time after their usual economic businesses. Others are obsessed with having fun leaving very little time for their academic activities while some are generally lazy (Devlin and Gray, 2007). Due to their bi g workload, they ought to have a very clear schedule for their activities. The ability of a student to manage his/her time well in college is a key to his/her success. Most of the research papers in higher learning institutions are meant to gauge the student qualification for the area he/she may be covering thus requires ample time. Plagiarism in this case may be accelerated by procrastination whereby the student keeps on pushing the time to work on his paper until he/she is caught up with the deadline (UNSW, 2010). When students are caught up with the deadline, they are prone to panic and are therefore not able to concentrate or do enough research for their paper. They may end up getting involved in plagiarism to save the situation. Most international students find it hard to adopt the new curriculum and may not be keen on giving enough time to their research paper because of the advanced technology. They know that they can still get the information from the internet or other books thus being reluctant.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More They may also be going through financial strain as they adapt to the new lifestyle or because their guardians are far away thus looking for means to support themselves as they do their studies. This may lead them to poor time management since the job may be draining most of their time leaving them with very little time for their research paper. Pressure to succeed Whenever a student joins any institution of higher learning, failing is never an option and the mission right from day one is to get the best grades possible. The pressure may even be more for international students since it takes some so much sacrifice and strain to seek better education at international institutions. Pressure to succeed and fear of failure is perceived form all direction. For instance, the parents will always be proud of their child if he/she succeeds, the college always sets pass mark giving a student pressure to pass, whoever is learning also gets satisfaction and fulfillment after succeeding, the job market first absorbs the successful students, and in essence pressure to succeed comes from all direction (Sutherland-Smith, 2008) The education system is so materialistic in a manner that there is always a reward for the successful student and therefore the student will take every action that will help him/her succeed. In this case, whenever a student is given any form of assignment, chances of plagiarism are so high since he/she to present the best work possible. Through plagiarism, a student is assured of a better grade without putting so much effort or thinking too hard. Some students may be promised monetary gains in case of success while others may be lazy and want to get away with a good grade without sacrificing a lot. Other students may be taking courses they have a negative attitude tow ards, of which they have to pass thus making them prone to plagiarism (Devlin and Gray, 2007). This mostly happens to international students when they realize hat most of their areas of study are different from what they were used to at home. This is probably because they do not understand the concept behind their area of study or else, there are just interested in passing to leave the area and do something of their interest. This comes about when students make uninformed decisions when choosing their area of study or guardians force them in to a certain profession. How to overcome plagiarism Institutions of higher learning can only curb the problem of plagiarism by fostering academic integrity, which is composed of the following principles (Drinan and Gallant, 2010): Honesty- The students and tutors should have a driving force to be honest in learning, research and in exams.Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Honesty gives a student satisfaction and fulfillment on the grades achieved, enabling him/her to identify and work on his/her weak areas. For international students who may be facing challenges adapting to the new system, it is advisable to develop interest to learn and create more time in order to understand the concept. Trust: Institutions of higher learning and their students should create an atmosphere of trust where by none of them is afraid that the other may be dishonest in one way or the other. This will minimize cases of peer pressure whereby some honest student are forced to copy since everyone in class is doing it. This way, they are able to exchange ideas freely and they can help each other build well on their research and writing talents. Fairness: Tutors should always develop an attitude of fairness to their student’s right from the beginning whether they are local or international. They should be keen to encourage the honest students by rewarding their hard wor k well and putting strict measures to those caught with cases of dishonesty. Many institutions have come up with means of capturing cases of academic dishonesty such as CCTV in exam rooms, software to detect digital plagiarism and this has encouraged student to work on their own thus getting fair rewards. Tutors should also be fair when marking papers in order to raise the morale of their students and should create a conducive environment for the international students to learn (Keuskamp and Sliuzas, 2007) Respect: Academicians should hold the value of education dearly and with a lot of respect. Every credit in this field should be worked for and held with much integrity since it should be an evidence of the efforts the bearer has put towards its achievement. In this case students should manage their time carefully and this will enable them manage the pressure to pass without straining. It is therefore important to hold on to academic integrity and avoid cases of academic dishonesty . Responsibility: Institutions of higher learning are meant to nature a spirit of responsibility not only in college but also in their day-to-day life. This should begin right from college where students should be responsible of their research papers by working hard without depending on other author’s materials. They should be taught the importance of time management and independence Local and international students should know the institutions mission right from the beginning in to work towards it. Apart from the above principles of academic integrity, researchers should ensure that any information retrieved from another persons work is properly cited and references given. This can only be possible if the institution can facilitate on writing skills from the beginning of course work because many students get hardships when doing their write-ups due to lack of proper prior information. Another way of overcoming plagiarism is through extensive discussions about it between the staff and the students in order to bring the issue to the light. This is because plagiarism has been hidden for many days through assumption that it is not a very serious issue. This leads many students to taking the issue lightly since they do not know much about plagiarism. This is what leads to unintentional plagiarism since the student may think it is okay since no one talks about it. The staff should hole sessions with the students on time management and they way to live independently without much influence from the peers. Conclusion Academic integrity go hand in hand with plagiarism since for the former to operate, the latter should be totally avoided. When academic integrity is not upheld, it undermines the core values through which knowledge is obtained thus damaging the reputation of the larger academic community. I would recommend that writing skills to be included in every curriculum as a common unit to give learners ample knowledge on how to learn independently and invol ve critical thinking whenever they are carrying out their assignments. It should be clear that plagiarism is a very serious offence, which should be discouraged in every institution. This is because most tutors and students have had a mentality that plagiarism is just one simple way of accomplishing their course of duty. References Barrier, J. Presti, D. (2000). Digital plagiarisms. Retrieved from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1761843/. Devlin, M. Gray, K. (2007). A qualitative study of the Reasons Australian university students plagiarize. Centre for the Study of Higher Education, The University of Melbourne. Retrieved from deakin.edu.au/dro/eserv/DU:30006690/devlin-intheirownwords.pdf Drinan, P. Gallant, T. (2010), Student Conduct Practice. Virginia: Stylus Publishing. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=PplF1P6RVm0Cpg=PA258dq=academic+integrityhl=enei=_7rHTM3vB4fwsga4rNDGBgsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=3ved=0CC4Q6AEwAg#v=onepageq=academic%20integrityf=true. Keuskamp, D. Sliuzas, R. (2007). Plagiarism prevention or detection? The contribution of text-matching software to education about academic integrity. Journal of Academic Language Learning, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 91-A99. Retrieved from http://journal.aall.org.au/index.php/jall/article/viewFile/29/41 Peer pressure and plagiarism. (2009). Peer pressure and plagiarism. Retrieved from http://peerpressureandplagiarism.blogspot.com/. Sutherland-Smith, W. (2008). Plagiarism, the Internet, and Students learning. NY, Routledge. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=QBAgs5kiNaMCpg=PA175dq=plagiarism-pressure+to+succeedhl=enei=C87HTPjKCIX1sgbSkanYDQsa=Xoi=book_resultct=resultresnum=2ved=0CDAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepageqf=true. The University of New South Wales. (2010). How Does Plagiarism Happen? Retrieved from lc.unsw.edu.au/plagiarism/how_2.html. Vermaat, S. (2008). Discovering Computers 2009: Introductory. Cengage Learning. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=qqdGbLYpl4wCprintse c=copyright#v=onepageqf=false. Â  White, F., Owens, C. Nguyen, M. (2007). Using a constructive feedback approach to effectively reduce student plagiarism among first-year psychology students. http://sydney.edu.au/science/uniserve_science/pubs/procs/2008/127.pdf.

How to Survive Your Upcoming Panel Interview

How to Survive Your Upcoming Panel Interview You’ve just been told your interview won’t be a one-on-one or series of individual interviews, but a panel interview instead. Maybe it’s your first panel interview. Maybe they just freak you out and throw you off your game. It can be intimidating going before the â€Å"firing squad,† so to speak. But don’t be intimidated. Think of this as an opportunity to convince more decision makers of how good a fit you are. Get as many of them on your side as you can. It’s a much more efficient use of time! But if the rapid fire scenario still frightens you and your nerves are daunted by the extra pressure, here are 7 strategies for how to prepare and sail through.1. Do your homework.Think about the preparation required for a normal interview, then multiply that by the number of people on the panel, at least. Figure out, first of all, who is going to be on your panel. You can ask the recruiter or hiring manager for names and titles; this is standard prac tice and will help you better assess what might be most important to each. Find out as much as you can about their roles, successes, career backgrounds. Think about the questions each one might be likely to ask and then prepare great answers.Then, go through your resume to make sure you don’t need to explain away any gaps or oddities. And then rehearse. Have friends or family fire questions at you, so you can practice answering them, and addressing each questioner by name.2. Look smart.Show up 10 minutes early (you should do this anyway, but wasting four or 10 people’s time is much worse than just one). Wear something professional and make sure your appearance is well-groomed and neat. Consult the company’s dress policy and err on the side of caution. Try a dark, smart suit if in doubt.Present yourself with confidence and keep your body language open. Don’t fidget. Sit up straight, smile, and don’t forget to breathe. Remember to make eye contact wi th questioners when answering. And then make sure your confidence level doesn’t spill over into arrogance.3. Build rapport.Once you get a sense of the room, start getting comfortable, and make sure everyone else is comfortable too. Answer each question directly to the person who asked it, but find a way to broaden out your answer at the end and address the group. Show how you can engage the room, build up a sense of teamwork and camaraderie. Put people (i.e. customers/coworkers) at ease. Remember to keep each member of the panel in mind with each answer. Don’t exclude the rest of the panel to answer one question too narrowly or directly.4. Control the pace.The rapid-fire situation only has to be overwhelming if you let it. Remember, you can control the pace of the conversation. You are well within your rights to pause before answering a question. Get to the point quickly, keep your answers brief, and don’t get bogged down. This will help you get your answers out before the next question comes your way.If you get cut off before you finish, immediately ask yourself whether what you were going to say was important enough to persist. If not, move on. If yes, politely say you’d like to just share one final thought on the previous question, then move on.5. Prepare for follow-ups.Just as in a normal interview, you will probably get follow-up questions to your answers in a panel interview situation. Do your best to prepare for this as you usually would, taking into account ways you can broaden your follow-up answers to engage more of the group.6. Make connections.Whenever possible, connect your answers to other questions or other answers during the interview. This shows that you are constantly tracking the bigger picture, and making connections. Don’t underestimate how impressive comments that link back to other comments can be to the panel and its individual members.7. Follow up.Thank each member of the panel individually whenever p ossible, with a firm handshake, eye contact, and a genuine smile. Then send personalized thank you notes- preferably handwritten- to each, and promptly. Gather up as many business cards as possible- this will help with thank yous and with future networking.

Ch10 - reflectional journal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Ch10 - reflectional journal - Essay Example ficant because it is teachers who become responsible to address the gap by adopting a range of suitable instructional strategies in the science classes. It points out the need for science teachers like me to understand the reasons behind achievement gap in science and address those while designing and delivering instruction. Not only to achieve equity in science education but also to make my teaching effective, I should be following some of the useful suggestions given in the chapter. For example, even though the rule of the thumb is that I must be using all best practices that have been researched and proven effective, if I do not differentiate instruction, it will be like treating students as a homogenous group than to make it an inclusive classroom by addressing the diverse needs. In order to do it, I must take into consideration the individual and special learning needs of my students. I used to wonder whether I must be lowering expectations for some students, but I learnt from the chapter that it does not help. Instead, I must make the classes more supportive. The chapter talks about several ways in which support can be provided, such as providing additional time to complete tasks. Learning and equipping myself with a range of useful instructional support strategies will certainly help me accommoda te various needs of my students. Learning needs are not limited to only those who are usually categorised as underachievers due to disabilities, but also extend to gifted ones. I learnt that I must identify such students as well while doing an assessment of learning needs in my class. I should be approaching them differently by setting more abstract or challenging tasks allowing more room for exploration, at the same time not ignoring the fundamentals they should learn as part of the curricular goals. The chapter also points out the importance of being aware of the cultural needs of students and their level of language proficiency. I should take these into account

Charles I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Charles I - Essay Example full term at the helm of the throne, and the conflicts that characterized his term, emanating from his perceived loyalty to the Catholicism, leaving the Protestants to feel aggrieved. The conflict with the parliament soared so high to the point of having the structure of leadership change after his execution and the parliament ruled without the monarch, when fifty-nine among the commission of judges signed a death warrant and committed him to be executed (Hibbert, 273). While covering the life story of Charles I, the book has also sought to give the backgrounds that led the King to act in the manner he acted in different situations of his leadership, seeking to create a full understanding of the life and the circumstances that surrounded the life of the King. This book covers an important aspect of the history of England, most especially by delving deeply into the aspect of the conflict between the parallel systems of leadership; the monarchial system and the parliamentary system. Additionally, the book covers the core of the emergence of a constitutional monarchy while also highlighting the role that religion has played to influence the politics of England throughout its history. Thus, this subject needs to be covered, so that it can create deeper insights into the history of the conflicts between parliamentary system and the monarchial system and the reason as to why the two parallel system works in present day without much of a conflict. Through this subject, the history of religion and religion conflicts also will be understood, thus creating an understanding of religion and how it has shaped religion, thus enabling an appreciation how things work the way they work in present day. The thesis of this book points to the idea that; Charles I was not suited to the throne when assessed by his physical appearances, and neither was his father King James. Because of the negative things that he was perceived to have done to some people, which deprived them of their

Business and Social Approaches to Social Media Essay - 1

Business and Social Approaches to Social Media - Essay Example Identifying how this particular tool is now being used and identifying the ways that it can work for others that are using the Internet is then creating a different approach to connecting online. Theories of Social Media The use of social media for businesses is one which relates specifically to the ability to connect with others online through specific mediums. The social media platforms consist of areas which users can interact and connect with other like-minded users. The growth of this has led to platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia and business areas where others can connect. The concept is now known as web 2.0, where interaction and user-generated content is providing more applications and alternatives for those that are online. The concept of using these tools is based on the demographics, ability to display a specific message to viewers and the ability to collaborate with business ideas that will attract potential customers to a business (Kaplan, Haenlein, 2010). Th e approach which is now being taken with social media has allowed the main concept to transform the way in which many are approaching business and interactions. When searching for the user-generated content, there is the ability to connect with others that are interested in specific ideologies, consumerism, and choices. A business can specify demographics, target markets and other concepts that are from a given profile. From this, there is the ability to transfer information and knowledge about the business and to create a connection to customers. This creates a social graph, in which one business connects to potential customers and begins to expand with the specific target markets that are available through the interactions and known interests that are listed on the various online portals (Qualman, 2011). The concept which has been used with approaching target markets has also led to the promotional mix is a model which is followed. This has been built into a hybrid model that is u sed for communicating with others and for interactions that are able to get specific results with online marketing. Consumer to consumer communications as well as promotions from businesses is the two main focuses of the hybrid promotional mix that is used for user-generated content. This occurs with the main promotion, advertisement or page that is listed on a social media site or website. The consumer then has the ability to focus on direct responses by commenting on the promotional tools with engagement. For businesses, this means that the promotions need to have positive responses from consumers while ensuring that the discussions work in favor of the business. The promotional mix that is needed is then based on gaining a sense of control with the promotions that are used for the social media portals (Mangold, Faulds, 2009). The interactions with customers and the way which this is associated with the promotional mix are then leading to the need to put the public relations of a business as the main priority. The amount of control that is a part of the user-generated content is based on finding a way to build credible forms of marketing and interactions that are online. The use of effective communication, ability to increase exposure and creating a strong presence and brand loyalty are some of the focuses that are a part of using social media online.  

Talk bout racism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Talk bout racism - Essay Example William is described as a person who has a good sense of humor, in addition to loving his family (Petrini 1). He is a businessman and he hates to leave his family whenever he has to travel or attend to his businesses. William has been profiled on a number of occasions, and he is also guilty of profiling others. It is vital to note the interest that William has on knowing the American culture. This interest is motivated by his need to feel like a true American. The main theme in the story is the racial profiling of people from different backgrounds. For instance William profiled Fekadu when he came to pick him up from his house. During this instance, William glanced at Fekadu and concluded that he is a, â€Å"black man with a violent history† (Alexia 50). This conclusion was motivated by the fact that Fekadu had a scar on his neck. During their interactions, William learnt that Fekadu was learned and non-violent. He learnt that Fekadu studied physics and he was a jet-fighter pilot. However, he had to escape from his home, in Ethiopia, without informing his parents. The characterization of Fekadu and William impacts on readers because they are able to relate to their problems and issues. The two characters also have positive impacts on each other. The narration of the story using flashbacks and old dreams helps in the connection of the two characters and the instances of racial profiling. William’s insights and thoughts, and the theme of profiling enable the reader to analyze and think about each of the characters. The two characters are able to relate because they find themselves in similar circumstances. They are faced with problems such as racial profiling, family stability and their personal pains, hopes and fears. William does not like business trips that make him leave his family (Petrini 1). He fears that a racially instigated problem may arise and cause harm to his family. The

Developing a Performance Measurement System for a Firm That Purchased Coursework

Developing a Performance Measurement System for a Firm That Purchased a Supplier of Its Intermediate Goods - Coursework Example The basis for transfer prices is that the subunit managers make decisions; they are required to focus on how their decision will influence the performance of the subunit without assessing their effect on the overall company performance. Thus, transfer prices make it easy for the subunit manager to process information and make decisions. In a transfer system that is well designed, the manager puts more focus on optimizing the performance of the subunit, and in so doing, the performance of the company is optimized (Datar, Horngren & Rajan, 2012). Usually, there are three forms of transfer prices; market-based transfer prices, cost-based transfer, and negotiated transfer prices. Each form complies with organization and performance assessment in a different level. The transfer prices to be used rely on the environmental conditions and specific objectives of the company. In this case, the form of transfer to be used is the market-based transfer prices. In order to develop a performance measurement system for the firm, the following conditions must be met. First, a market or its substitute must exist for the intermediate product. However, this condition is generally not fully met. In most cases, there are a number of comparable products with different prices present. Second, the transaction of the firm’s divisions may not have a significant effect on the market price.

The incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS in Australia Essay

The incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS in Australia - Essay Example (NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, 1997) Babies die from SIDS at all times of the day and night, in cots, prams, car seats, and bassinettes and even in their parent's arms. "With the better education about the risks of SIDS, the number of deaths has been reduced by more than 50 per cent over the last six years." (Horgan, 1995 pp.22-24) "Although the cause of SIDS is still a mystery, research in Australia and other parts of the world suggests it's possible for parents, grandparents and other carers to lower the risk in these simple ways". (Jones Michael Dr, 2006) Since parents in Australia and across the rest of the world have changed how babies are put down for sleep, fewer babies have died from SIDS. However, SIDS can still occur even when all the known risk factors have been ruled out. (SIDS and Kids, 2005a) In Australia, SIDS accounts for the deaths of more babies between the ages of one month and one year than all who die of cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, child abuse, AIDS, cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy combined. In the United States SIDS is responsible for more deaths than any other cause in childhood for babies one month to one year of age, claiming 150,000 victims in this generation alone 7,000 babies each year, nearly one baby every hour of every day. (BHC, 2006c) SIDS occurs at any time of the day or night and most babies die quietly in their sleep. (Better Health Channel, 2006a) "Although it is more common in babies between the ages of two to four months it happens to younger and older babies also, this syndrome occurs in both bottle-fed and breastfed babies. There is a 60 to 40 percent male to female ratio. 60 per cent babies are boys who die. It occurs in families of all races, ethnic and socioeconomic origins without warning. SIDS occurrence is quite sudden, neither parent nor physician can predict that something is wrong. Most SIDS victims appear healthy prior to death." (AAP American academy of Pediatrics, 2005 pp.1245-1255) Researchers believe that babies who die of SIDS are born with one or more conditions that make them especially vulnerable to stresses that occur in the normal life of an infant, including both internal and external influences. "SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion. A death is diagnosed as SIDS only after all other alte rnatives have been eliminated." (Mage & Donner, 2004 pp.1210-1215) SIDS is very rare syndrome. The number of SIDS deaths remained constant despite fluctuations in the overall number of infant deaths. The National Center for Health Statistics NCHS reported that, in 1988 in the United States, 5,476 infants under 1 year of age died from SIDS in 1989, the number of SIDS deaths was 5,634 (NCHS,1990 p. 33). "However, other sources estimate that the number of SIDS deaths may actually be closer to 7,000". (Goyco, Beckerman, 1990 pp. 299-346) The larger estimate represents additional cases that are unreported or underreported the cases that were not reported as SIDS. More than 4999 out of every 5000 babies in South Australia do not die from SIDS. Although SIDS is the most common cause in Australia of death for babies between 1 month and 12 months old, but it is still rare. (NCHS, 1992 p. 44) Causes of SIDS: While there are still no adequate medical explanations for SIDS deaths, current theories include: (1) Stress in a normal baby caused by infection or other factors (2) A birth defect (3)

Developing a Performance Measurement System for a Firm That Purchased Coursework

Developing a Performance Measurement System for a Firm That Purchased a Supplier of Its Intermediate Goods - Coursework Example The basis for transfer prices is that the subunit managers make decisions; they are required to focus on how their decision will influence the performance of the subunit without assessing their effect on the overall company performance. Thus, transfer prices make it easy for the subunit manager to process information and make decisions. In a transfer system that is well designed, the manager puts more focus on optimizing the performance of the subunit, and in so doing, the performance of the company is optimized (Datar, Horngren & Rajan, 2012). Usually, there are three forms of transfer prices; market-based transfer prices, cost-based transfer, and negotiated transfer prices. Each form complies with organization and performance assessment in a different level. The transfer prices to be used rely on the environmental conditions and specific objectives of the company. In this case, the form of transfer to be used is the market-based transfer prices. In order to develop a performance measurement system for the firm, the following conditions must be met. First, a market or its substitute must exist for the intermediate product. However, this condition is generally not fully met. In most cases, there are a number of comparable products with different prices present. Second, the transaction of the firm’s divisions may not have a significant effect on the market price.

What is the Oxford English Dictionary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

What is the Oxford English Dictionary - Essay Example It was first published approximately 150 years back. Since then it has been continuously revised at regular intervals (About). In 1857 the members of Philological Society of London determined that the dictionaries of English Language were incomplete and required a lot of re-examination starting from the Anglo-Saxon times. In 1879 the Philological Society made a contract with James A. H. Murray and the Oxford University to initiate the process of developing English Dictionary. Murray and his colleagues examined the words of English Language from the last seven centuries (History of the OED). The working team thought that it will take around ten years in completing the project. However, the English words kept on evolving and the process took more years than actually anticipated. Murray and his team published the first version of Oxford English Dictionary in 1884 but it was clearly evident that much more work was left to be done. Later on other editors joined the team including W.A. Craigie, Henry Bradley, and C.T. Onions. The new team worked steadily and published the final volume in April 1928 with more than 400,000 words (History of the OED). There were several reasons for the publication of Oxford English Dictionary. Early modern period changed the English language since the words used were immensely increased during 1500 to 1650. Words were also taken from Greek and Latin languages which necessitated the development of profound English Dictionary. Moreover, the world was undergoing serious demographic changes such as the shifts from rural to urban areas (Simpson). This subsequently increased the publication of books and other relevant material. Eventually the grammar schools were established which pushed the authorities to revise the English Dictionary. Apart from this the monolingual dictionaries were preceding around the globe while on the other hand the Latin-English Dictionaries were also

Role of Consumer Expectations in Economic Policy

Role of Consumer Expectations in Economic Policy BU/12C/BS/0403 Introduction A theme that dominates modern discussions of macro policy is the importance of expectations, and economists have devoted a great deal of thought to expectations and the economy. Change in expectations can shift the aggregate demand (AD) curve; expectations of inflation can cause inflation. For this reason expectations are central to all policy discussions, and what people believe policy will be significantly influences the effectiveness of the policy. Expectations complicate models and policymaking enormously; they change the focus of discussions from a response that can be captured by simple models to much more complicated discussions. The adaptive expectations theory assumes people form their expectations on future inflation on the basis of previous and present inflation rates and only gradually change their expectations as experience unfolds. In this theory, there is a short-run tradeoff between inflation and unemployment which does not exist in the long-run. Any attempt to reduce the unemployment rate blow the natural rate sets in motion forces which destabilize the Phillips Curve and shift it rightward. Under adaptive expectations, forecasts of the future rate of inflation may be right on the money, but they may also exhibit systematic error. When inflation is accelerating, forecasts will tend to be too low. And when inflation is decelerating (that is, disinflation is taking place), then forecasts will tend to be too high. The Rational expectations model was developed by Robert Lucas, rational economic agents are assumed to make the best of all possible use of all publicly available information. Before reaching a conclusion, people are assumed to consider all available information before them, then make informed, rational judgments on what the future holds. This does not mean that every individual’s expectations or predictions about the future will be correct. Those errors that do occur will be randomly distributed, such that the expectations of large numbers of people will average out to be correct. To illustrate, assume the economy has been in an equilibrium state for several years with low inflation and low unemployment. In such a stable environment, the average person would expect the inflation rate to stay where it is indefinitely. But now assume the Central Bank announces it is going to significantly increase the rate of growth of the money supply. Basic economic theory tells us an increase in the money supply will translate into higher prices, such that increasing the annual rate of growth of the money supply should bring about higher inflation rates. Knowing this, consumers will revise their inflationary expectations upward. As this simple example shows, people do not rely only on past experiences to formulate their expectations of the future, as adaptive expectations theory suggests. Rather people use all information available to them in judging what the future will hold. This information can include past data, but it will also include current policy announcements and all other information that give them reason to believe that the future might hold certain changes. If the adaptive expectations are backward looking the rational expectations are forward looking , in that they assume people will use all of the information available to them. Expectations of inflation Some workers may feel cheated by inflation. They might believe that without it, they would experience real-wage increases because their nominal wages are rising 5% a year. Unfortunately, they are wrong. They suffer what some economists call money illusion, a confusion of real and nominal weight. The source of the illusion is as thus; considering real wages are constant, the rise of their nominal wages by 5% is only as a result of the general 5% inflation. Assuming no inflation took place, there will be no increase in their nominal wages. After a time, everyone in the economy will begin to expect that the 5% annual inflation that ensued in the past would continue in the future. Economists refer to this as expectations of inflation. People’s expectations of inflation influences all facets of economic life. For example, in the steady-state economy described previously, textile producers will look forward to increasing the price of their products by 5% for the coming years. They will also expect their costs of steel and labor, for example, to increase the same way. Workers will begin to believe that the increase in their wages will be matched by the same increase in the prices of goods they buy. Also, wages are influenced by expectations. Suppose, for example, that both employers and employees expect 4% inflation in the year coming. Workers will start negotiations from a base of a 4% increase in money wages, which would hold their real wages constant. Firms also may be inclined to begin bargaining by yielding to increase at least 4% in money wages relative to productivity, because they expect that the prices at which they sell their products will rise by 4%. Starting from that base, workers will attempt to obtain some desired increase in their real wages. At this point, such factors as profits and bargaining power become important. The general expectation of some specific inflation rate creates pressure for wages to rise by that rate relative to productivity and, thus, the rise of unit cost at that rate. Inflation expectations and Interest rates When the public expects inflation, real and nominal rates of interest will differ because inflation needs to be accounted for in calculating the real return from lending and borrowing. Have in mind that the nominal interest rate is equal to the real interest rate plus expected inflation rate. If real rate of interest is 2% and inflation is 5% a year, the nominal rate is 7%. Although lenders receive 7% a year on their loans, their real return after inflation rate is just 2%. We know that in the long run the real interest rate does not bank on monetary policy because money is neutral; i.e. the price level is affected by the money supply. However, the nominal rates of interest do bank on monetary policy because the policy influences the rate of inflation, which in the long run is bent on the growth of the money supply. It has been pointed out that countries with greater money growth naturally have higher nominal interest rates than countries with lower money growth rates because they have higher inflation. What this means is that country A and B have the same real rate of interest, but country A has a higher inflation rate, it will also have a higher nominal interest rate. Inflation expectations and money demand The amount of money people want to hold will also be affected by expectations about inflation. If the public expects a 5% inflation a year, then its demand for money will also increase by 5% a year. This is because people know everything will cost 5% more, so they’ll need more money in their possession to pay for the same goods and services. This is an example of the real-nominal principle: As long as the government allows the increase in the supply of money by 5% , the same amount as inflation, the demand for money and supply are both growing at the same rate, real and nominal interest rates will not change. Effects of expectations on changes in future income Todays consumption decisions may depend not only on current income, but also  on the income that one expects to earn in the future. For example, an individual  who is currently not employed but who has a contract to begin a high-paying job  in three months will probably consume more today than another unemployed  individual with no job prospects. To illustrate the effect of changes in expected future income, suppose that  instead of receiving the $6000 bonus during the current year, a consumer learns that  she will receive a $6000 bonus (after taxes) next year. The promise of the bonus is  legally binding, and said consumer has no doubt that extra income will be received  next year. How will this information affect the consumer’s consumption and saving in  the current year? Because current income is unaffected, the consumer could leave her current  consumption and saving unchanged, waiting until the bonus is actually received  to increase her consumption. If her decisions are guided by a consumption-smoothing motive, however, she will prefer to use the bonus to increase her current consumption  as well as her future consumption. She can increase her current consumption, despite the fact that her current income remains unchanged, by reducing her current saving (she could even dissave, or have negative cu rrent saving, with current consumption exceeding current income, by using her accumulated assets or by borrowing). Suppose, for example, that consumer decides to consume $1000 more this year. Because current income is unchanged, the $1000 increase in current consumption is equivalent to a $1000 reduction in current saving. The $ 1000 reduction in current saving will reduce the available resources in the next year, relative to the situation in which her saving is unchanged, by $ 1000 X (1 + r) . For example, if the real interest rate is 0.05, cutting current saving by $1000 reduces the available resources next year by $1000 X 1 .05 == $1050. Overall, her available resources next year will increase by $6000 because of the bonus but will decrease by $1050 because of reduced current saving, giving a net increase in resources of $6000 $1050 == $4950, which can be used to increase consumption next year or in the following years. Effectively, the consumer can use the increase in her expec ted future income to increase consumption both in the present and in the future. To summarize, an increase in an individuals expected future income is likely to lead that person to increase current consumption and decrease current saving. The same result applies at the macroeconomic level: If people expect that aggregate output and income, Y, will be higher in the future, current desired consumption, cd, should increase and current desired national saving, sd, should decrease. Economists cant measure expected future income directly, so how do they  take this variable into account when predicting consumption and saving behavior? One approach is to survey consumers and ask them about their expectations. Their  answers can be useful for assessing developments in the macroeconomy.   In conclusion, The central role of expectations means that there is a great deal of uncertainty in the economy. Put simply: What people believe plays a central role in how they react to policy. Expectations can change the effect of a policy. Most discussion of policy today assumes that people are forward looking, that they think strategically, and that they base their actions on expected policy actions. Thus in some way their expectations are rational. But modern policy discussion is also built on the belief that the economy is complicated and that many possible expectations are rational. This includes adaptive expectations and combinations of expectations strategies. What the above assumptions mean in terms of policy is that depending on the beliefs that individuals hold, monetary and fiscal policy will work in different ways. People aren’t stupid and they aren’t super intelligent; they are people. If the government uses an activist monetary and fiscal policy in a predictable way, people will eventually come to build that expectation into their behavior. If the government bases its prediction of the effect of policy on past experience, that prediction will likely be wrong. But government never knows when expectations will change. Let’s consider an example. Say that everyone expects government to run expansionary fiscal policy if the economy is in recession. In the absence of any expected policy response from the government, people will lower their prices when they see a recession coming. Expecting government expansionary policy, however they won’t lower their price. Thus, the expectation of policy can create its own problems. References: Advanced Macro Economics, Romer, 2011; Slavin S., Macro Economics, 2009; A Century of Economic Theory. Mankiw, Mcroeconomics, Aggregate Supply and the Short-Run Tradeoff Between Inflation and Unemployment: Business Cycle Theory: The Economy in the Short Run   Rittenberg Tregarthen Micheal Rousakis, uni of warwick, economics and fluctuations: the role of monetary policy, 2012 Froyen, Macroeconomics Weil, Economic Growth

William Shakespeares Antony and Cleopatra Essay -- Shakespeare Antony

William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra â€Å"The triple pillar of the world transformed/Into a strumpet’s fool. Behold and see† (I.1.12). â€Å"I have eyes upon him† (III.6.61). Shakespeare’s Antony invites speculation and a greedy voyerism that can only be instigated by a protagonist who, despite perpetually being at the centre of discussion, manages to elude classification.This impression of opacity of character is enhanced by the fact that his own idea of himself and of his uncontrollable infatuation with Cleopatra is constantly mutating. Antony oscillates between wishing â€Å"Would I had never seen [Cleopatra]† (I.2.253), and admitting â€Å"I’th’East my pleasure lies† (II.3.41). One moment he wails â€Å"I have fled myself [...] I have lost command† (III.11.7, 23), the next he reassures himself with a mantra-like repetitiveness, â€Å"There’s hope in’t yet [...] There’s sap in’t yet† (III.13.175, 191). When the protagonist himself is never static, when the other characters define him in accordance to their own agendas or morbid curiosity, there is very little for the audience to hold onto in the way of tangible evidence of one mental state as opposed to another. â€Å"This common body, like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,/Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide,/To rot itself with motion† (I.4.44) Caesar says this about the tendency of the masses to wish for the ruler who isn’t in power or is seen less, and then when he does come into the limelight, to lose interest and want someone else. But taken out of context, these lines are a disturbingly appropriate depiction of Antony’s state throughout the play. For he is discussed and prodded as if he were common property, and shifts continuously between du... ...ity and littleness, an admission of his own weaknesses. The vagueness of â€Å"Sometimes we see a cloud that’s dragonish,/A vapour sometime like a bear or lion, [...] That which is now a horse, even with a thought/The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct/As water is in water† is juxtaposed against the profoundly personal, intrspective lines â€Å"Here I am Antony,/Yet cannot hold this visible shape† (IV.14.3-22). The result is the feeling that whether he has fallen or not, whether the Roman way is better than the Egyptian, whether the â€Å"old Antony† is a myth, his own self-disgust and deflated sense of self remains. Perhaps that is the closest we can expect to get to the real Antony: the one he reveals when in the throes of self-doubt. Perhaps that is all we deserve to uncover: for as Dante’s Virgil would say, â€Å"the desire to hear [others’ dispute] is a base desire† (xxx.148).

Descartes’ Cogito Essay -- Philosophy small universal elements

Descartes’ Cogito It is the purpose of this essay to examine both Descartes’ Cogito argument and his skepticism towards small and universal elements, as well as the implications these arguments have on each other. First, I will summarize and explain the skepticism Descartes’ brings to bear on small and universal elements in his first meditation. Second, I will summarize and explain the Cogito argument, Descartes’ famous â€Å"I think, therefore I am† (it should be noted that this famous implication is not actually something ever said or written by Descartes, but instead, an implication taken from his argument for his own existence). Third, I will critique the line of reasoning underlying these arguments. Descartes attacks small and universal elements with the problem posed by the possibility of God being an omnipotent deceiver, but he seems to think his Cogito argument is immune from this type of criticism. Fourth, I will show how the Cogito is actually har der to establish than the existence of small and universal elements. And, fifth, I will establish small and universal elements as an Archimedean point (i.e. – a foundational claim). In Descartes’ first meditation, paragraphs 9-12, he arrives at the final and most devastating stage of questioning his beliefs. In his first two stages, he questions both small and distant objects and medium sized objects, and concludes that neither can be held as true with any certainty. He throws out the first because of the possibility that the small and distant object is a mirage, and throws out the second because of the possibility that we are actually dreaming while perceiving medium sized objects. In his third and final stage of doubt, Descartes’ examines sma... ...things. The lack of an omnipotent deceiver and the reality of the existence of small and universal elements lead to an even broader foundational claim; there is a world where the small and universal elements exist. Either it is the world around us at his very moment, or, if this is a dream, it is the world of the dreamer whose small and universal elements make up this dream world. In concluding, a few things must be noted. One, Descartes’ omnipotent deceiver does not and cannot exist in the manner Descartes relates. Two, even if the deceiver did exist, the Cogito would not be immune from the pall of doubt the deceiver’s existence would cause to fall on reality. Three, even without the deceiver, the Cogito is falsifiable because of the â€Å"Someone Else’s Dream† argument. Four, there is a world where small and universal elements we know of exist.

Human Chip Implants Essay

It is now possible to track humans wherever they are, thanks to the new technology of human chip implants. While this statement may sound interesting for the developers of the technology, the issue has attracted enormous debate about the ethical implications that surround the application of the technology. Human chip implants are sophisticated silicon microchip devices that are inserted to an individual’s hand or face for identification purposes (Alam, 2010). Prior to human applications, the microchip devices were used to identify and track lost and stolen pets. The first human to accept the device be implanted into his body was Professor Kevin Warwick on August 24th, 1998 (Witt, 1999). Warwick, a director of cybernetics at the University of Reading, U. K became the first person to host the controversial microchip after a procedure which took 20 minutes. Dr (Witt, 1999). George Boulos led a team of doctors who inserted a glass capsule the size of a pearl into Warwick’s left arm just above his elbow. The glass capsule comprised of several microprocessors work to recognize the human and give commands and communicate with other electronic devices (Witt, 1999). The device that was implanted into Warwick’s arm was about (23 X 3) mm and it stayed in his body for only nine days in order to avoid medical complications (Witt, 1999). In addition, the device had been found to have lost some power to function and the removal of it was to ensue. Half of the device was an electric coil while the rest of it was purely an arrangement of silicon microchips that processed and stored the information (Witt, 1999). The device could use only 8 bits of the total 64 bits of information to interact and communicated efficiently with the intelligent building at the University of Reading. The device functions to pass radio signals between the door frames that have rigged up doorways (Witt, 1999). When a human with the device implanted into his body enters or gets through the doorways, the radio signal energizes the coil which then produces an electric current that chips use to communicate signals which the computer recognizes a person as ‘authorized. ’ After this intelligent authentication, the door opens and the person can enter the building. For the nine days after implantation, Warwick was able to make security doors that required only smartcards to swing open through an electronic node system that tracked Warwick’s movement through the entire building (Witt, 1999). The technology of human implants claims several applications such as the identifications of lost children as well as the confused individuals suffering from Alzheimer disease (Mcgee & Maquire, 1999). It is also proposed that the technology can have potential uses in the verifications of job applicants to determine whether they are criminals or illegal immigrants (Alam, 2010). The devices can carry criminal and medical history after encoding the device only with one number (Alam, 2010). This shows how the device can be used for tracking among many different uses. The device can be used to gain access to facilities in a secure manner reducing the cases of theft and unauthorized access to buildings, libraries, laboratories or other places where security is of high relevance (Alam, 2010). There are human rights that are infringed when the human microchips are implanted. For example, the human chip implant would impinge the constitutional rights in relation to the Fourth and Fifth Amendments (Alam, 2010). The device is also argued to be violating the Fourteen Amendments which provides for the rights of properties. All persons are protected from unreasonable seizures and searches according to the Fourth Amendment and one of these searches is the electronic surveillance which reveals the privacy of persons without their consent (Macgee & Maquire, 1999). Two implications about human rights abuse are made in the use of the human microchip implant; the attachment of the surveillance device on humans and the continued monitoring of the person once the device is in the body. The ability of the microchip implanted into the body to read-write and track predisposes individual personal information to be revealed (Alam, 2010). Even if the read-only devices are used, they can be easily be scanned by the police and unauthorized searches violates the Fourth Amendments. At the same time, the use of microchip implants would violate the Fifth Amendment since the application of the microchip could be one form of self-incrimination where the device presents some tracking capabilities which breach the Fifth Amendment which provides that no citizen shall be forced to witness against himself (Macgee & Maquire, 1999). Although the Amendments refer specifically to verbal self-incrimination, it has been argued that the Amendment applies to modern technologies which forcibly take the evidence from someone. Another violation of the implantation of microchips involves the internal property interest (Alam, 2010). The chip installation involves the breaking into the skin and implanting the device just the similar ways a pacemaker or an artificial eye. In the case of eye and pacemaker implants, the procedure is acceptable for medical reasons. Contrary, in the case of human chip implants where the aim of the gadget is for the accounting system as well as to act as a repository for government information. In general, the human chip implants pose a number of ethical and legal issues despite their potential applications in ensuring security and tracking lost and kidnapped individuals. It is important to enact appropriate legislations that will prevent any grievous intrusion into individual privacy as the technology gets a big vote among Americans.

My Lai †Culpability of Guilt

Series Vietnam: A Television History.   The solider was describing the reasons why the American soldiers turned on the civilians whom they were sent to protect during the Vietnam War. The same soldier would start sobbing uncontrollably as he would go on to state, â€Å"You don’t remember the enemy that you shot and killed. But you always remember the 58 year old woman you shot and killed because she was running away. And she was running away because you were threatening to shoot her.† The Vietnam War was no more ugly than any other war in history, but it was the first war that had aired uncensored on American television. This time, there would be no illusory tales of grandeur that would put mythic heroics onto the exploits after they war came to a close. The blood of the Vietnam War had been captured for eternity. â€Å"Although popular sentiment among the lower classes for the [North Vietnamese Army] was not strong, there was still a great desire for independence.† (Morrison 17) This is not to say there were no noble intentions or heroic actions. Many Americans served their country honorably and in a noble manner. Their deeds, however, would forever be overshadowed by the atrocities committed by American soldiers who assaulted a free fire zone in the town of My Lai, a town that was primarily occupied by civilian women and children. The soldiers that went to Vietnam were normal, everyday young adults. Some were volunteers and some were conscripted, but none were murderers before they went to Vietnam. Even under the conditions of war, they did not easily crack or lose their humanity, yet, for some reason they snapped under pressure and followed orders that resulted in the death of many innocent civilians. Were they entirely guilty for their actions or were their actions justifiable under the conditions of war? Did the directives of their superiors absolve them of guilt? Was the stress they were under a driving force behind their decisions? Or had the military’s policy of dehumanizing the enemy play the vital role in their decisions? Most of all, would these factors absolve them of guilt? In order to understand the culpability of guilt, one needs to clearly understand what actually occurred in the village of My Lai on the day of the incident. March 16th, 1968: A company of the 23rd Infantry Division commanded by Lt. William Calley slaughters 347 unarmed civilians (including a dozen babies as young as one month of age) at the hamlet of Song My (My Lai 4) in Vietnam’s southern zone. Although Calley’s superiors observe the massacre from helicopters and its true nature known to higher ups, it is falsely cast as an intense firefight in which 128 â€Å"enemy soldiers† were killed. Only when a former soldier forces the incident into public view a year later is an extremely limited official investigation initiated. (Churchill 141) Needless to say, this description hardly sounds as if there is a lack of guilt on the part of the soldiers. This description of the incident also points the finger at the higher ups in the military and places blame on those who were knowledgeable about the incident, as they not only did nothing to punish those who took part in the incident, but so  casually ignored the massacre, that it would appear that such an incident may not have been entirely out of the ordinary. What is it that would lead the soldiers to launch such a massive offensive against the civilians? What reduced the moral qualms about taking such violent action against noncombatants? Part of the reason is a issue that is endemic to all military conflicts. Throughout the history of warfare throughout the world, there needs to be a certain instillation of a psychological attitude into a soldier in order to make the soldier acceptable to taking part in such wide-scale slaughter. This psychological instillation involves the dehumanization of the enemy in the eyes of the soldier. That is, the enemy is never portrayed as a human being. Rather, the enemy is always presented in a derogatory manner so as to appear less than human. After all, it is much easier to kill someone who is not seen as â€Å"someone†, but rather seen as â€Å"something†. In Vietnam, the soldiers were generally referred to under the derogatory term as â€Å"gook†. (Davis) As such, they are not presented as a real person, but rather as an object of a subhuman animal. For years, this was considered necessary or the troops may have not taken full action when in a combat situation. However, such derogatory attitudes also remove a great deal of the moral qualms that soldiers may have during situations where moral qualms might be necessary in order to make the judgment calls that would be required in a situation that needs restraint. Further complicating the matter is the fact that as the Vietnam War dragged on, many of the members of the military were drafted. They were not â€Å"real† soldiers so they were far more prone to cracking under the pressure of the highly brutal Vietnam conflict. It was an ugly war and many â€Å"average† people off the street were rushed through boot-camp and then off to the jungles of Southeast Asia. Such inexperience and reservations to combat combined with an out of control war have all the elements for mental breakdowns and psychological behavior. â€Å"A complete lack of understanding of the terrain and the culture of the people who inhabited contributed to the chaos.†Ã‚   (Windrow 55) This, of course, leads to the very important question, â€Å"Does this absolve the individuals who committed the atrocities of guilt?† Under the letter of the law, the answer is absolutely not. The random slaughter of civilians is not justifiable under any circumstances. There simple is no â€Å"good excuse† or a deliberate act of genocide. This guilt, however, does not mean that one should not examine the reasons behind the creation of the environment that lead to the deliberate massacre. Military and international law (drawing from precedents derived from the Nuremberg trials) clearly states that â€Å"following orders† is not an acceptable defense for a war crime. Much of the problems with the war in Vietnam were directly related to the American populace’s total misunderstanding of Vietnam and its history. Vietnam had fought several centuries long war of independence with the Chinese. It also fought a hundred years war with French colonialists and also occupying Japanese forces. The country’s goals were to free itself from foreign rule. While the United States saw itself as liberating the nation from communism, the general population simply wanted self determination. While the communist regimes that ended up controlling Vietnam were as brutal, if not worse, than the foreign occupying forces, at the time, the â€Å"hearts and minds† of the people were not with the American forces so the war quickly became a situation that was not winnable for the US troops. As such, the war trudged on without any clear  goal or end in sight. Only two viable options existed to end US involvement: withdraw and surrender; or drop an atomic bomb of Hanoi. The third option, perpetual aerial and ground war, simply dragged on forever costing an incalculable number of lives on both sides. This aerial assault also included large amounts of napalm bombs that made the landscape of war even more vicious. (Franklin)   From this, the entire landscape of the Vietnam War was one of mayhem that led to unspeakable acts on both sides. Ultimately, however, no one truly faced punishment from the massacre at My Lai. Lt. Calley saw a mere 3  ½ years of house arrest before President Nixon pardoned him. The deaths of those civilians have never been justly punished. So, was there ever a lesson that comes from these deaths? There were many lessons that were learned from the Vietnam War, particularly lessons derived from the horror of the My Lai massacre. If anything, the My Lai massacre shows what will result from the evils of dehumanizing the enemy and not instilling a sense of clear moral guidelines in soldiers so they understand the difference between an act of war and an act of genocide. Clearly, the military brass and the officials in the government must realize that they are culpable for such actions and must be held accountable to the public. The United States never truly recovered from the disaster of the Vietnam War as its specter hangs over the military to this very day. Perhaps, it is haunted by the ghosts of My Lai. Works Cited The American Experience. Vietnam: A Television History. PBS DVD. 1983. Churchill, Ward. On The Justice of Roosting Chickens. Oakland: AK Press, 2004. Davis, Peter. Hearts and Minds. Criterion Collection DVD. 1974 Franklin, H. Bruce. Vietnam and other American Fantasies. Boston: University of Massachusetts Press, 2000. Morrison, Wilbur H. The Elephant & the Tiger: The Full Story of the Vietnam War. New York: Hippocrene, 1990. Windrow, Martin. The Last Valley. Cambridge: De Capo Press, 2005.