Reaction Paper Example

REPORT on FEASIBILITY STUDY Summary: A Feasibility Study (FS) is a method of operation employed to precisely describe what a project is and what strategic issue need to be considered to assess the probability of gaining success. The following are the different types of FS: technical, economic, cultural, legal/ethical, resource, operational, marketing, real estate, and comprehensive feasibility. FS are done by companies whenever there is a new project to deal with.It is also used as a basis for an investment decision, whether to pursue or not on a particular project or business, or to make sure that there will be a return on investment (ROI). Reaction: FS is a necessity in the Philippine setting in the sense that in this unstable economy of ours, investing in something which does not promise any substantial returns is deemed to be a suicidal act. We do know that monetary remuneration is not the only important thing that any of our investments expect in return but it is what fuels our endeavors to continue to be of service to others and give our clients what is due them.A comprehensively conducted FS will help us determine the strengths and weaknesses of any project we are about to execute which in due course will save us money, time and effort. REPORT on SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS Summary: Situational Analysis is the step in the formulation of a plan, formulation of objectives and targets, formulation of policies and strategies, identification of programs and projects and last is investment programming or budgeting. Problem identification identifies the issues and problems that need to be solved.The framework for analyzing social outcomes include: outcomes, resources, services and facilities, access and utilization of services and facilities and environment. The profile of the target population describes the context which involves physical, economic, social, cultural and political environment where the population subsists. Reaction: The process of making a Situational Analysis is complex. It has a various components which need to be analyzed. Adequate time is very much needed to make sure that the end-result is not half-baked and clearly states the reason for engaging in such study.Collective effort of those who are involved should also be urged to arrive at a solid decision and basis for engaging regularly in the planned activity. REPORT on TECHNICAL ANALYSIS Summary: Evaluating technical feasibility has to do with a large part of determining needed and existing resources. Technical Analysis should be done to conclude whether current technical resources can be upgraded in a manner that fulfills the demand. If existing systems cannot be upgraded, then considerations on whether there is such an existing technology that meets the specifications should be the next alternative.Technical Analysis enables to uncover the method of production to be employed, equipment and tools, site development, amenities, factory building among others. Reaction: The p racticality of a proposed or an on-going project can be measured through Technical Analysis. It is the skeleton in which your business will stand and operate. It determines if a certain business venture possesses the necessary materials for it to be operational. Also, it makes sure that even if the materials are available, it has the capacity to handle or sustain the project at hand.Finally, it evaluates the capability of the workforce if they have the required skills needed to make the project possible. Technical Analysis encompasses the assessment of the structural components and technical aspects in running a business or sustaining a project. REPORT on ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Summary: Environmental Analysis is the study of the threats and opportunities that may affect the Marketing Plan. It is a fundamental marketing operation used to identify outside forces that may affect the success or failure of a certain product or service.It includes the identifying, scanning, analyzing and forecasting of the ever-changing business environment. The internal factors of environment that affect the business must first be identified, which can be done at different levels – the company, regional, domestic and global levels, making use of SWOT and PESTEL, however it can also be achieved through a very significant brainstorming assembly. Reaction: Environmental Analysis is very much helpful in understanding the ambiance in the business arena. It enables to identify factors that greatly affect the operation and the triumph of the business venture.Scanning is the process of recognizing which of the identified factors have the most effect because it will aid in giving back a path for improvement. Analyzing and trailing the steps will arm one with the necessary and appropriate tools to start a business of his desire. Forecasting should also be considered for it furnishes a rational basis for certain strategies to be employed which is beneficial to the business. REPORT on F INANCIAL ANALYSIS Summary: Financial Analysis is an assessment of the viability, stability and profitability of a business, sub-business or project.It is performed by professionals who prepare reports using ratios that make use of information taken from financial statements and other reports relative to it. These reports are usually presented to top management as one of their bases in making business decisions. The following are examples of reports and documents necessary in making a sound analysis: (a) Financial statements report the company’s financial status to interested parties; (b) Balance sheets show a corporation’s financial status at a certain point in time; (c) Income statements show a corporation’s profits and losses for a fixed eriod; (d) Cash flow represents the flow of cash over a fixed period, by how much cash on hand at the start of the period and how much is left at the end. Reaction: No business entity will materialize without appropriate fundi ng and financial back-up. Although there is enough monetary capital maintained by the company, it will gradually collapse when there is no proper financial accounting. Financial Analysis guarantees the realization of your ultimate goal in starting up a business venture that is to earn profit. With proper financial assessment, the business will definitely survive the competition.REPORT on ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Summary: Economic Analysis is examining in detail the economy. The objective of which is to assess the over-all impact of a project on improving the economic welfare of the citizens of the country concerned. It is for the national economy rather than for project participants. The objectives of economic analysis are to bring out a better allocation of resources that leads to increased incomes for investments or consumptions and to choose the means using the least resources for a given output.The Project Framework is of great importance because both the directly productive and indire ctly productive projects are analyzed, it aids to prevent misallocation of resources. It is also an appraisal tool to examine the implementation efficiency, operational effectiveness, testing and impact significance. Reaction: Understanding economic analysis entails a careful system of study to ensure the sustainability of a particular project and its success.Two components that should complement with each other are the Financial and Economic analyses to uphold the goal of sustaining the project. It should also be in consonance with the national objectives of economic recovery for it to be truly feasible in uplifting the country’s economy and national development. REPORT on CULTURAL and SOCIAL ANALYSIS Summary: Cultural Analysis is the study of people’s way of life intended to gather date on remarkable fact or event to obtain new knowledge by way of analyzing the given data. The main subject to cultural analysis are adaptation and change.Social Analysis, on the other h and, is the study of the development and structure of society and relationships. This has direct bearing on social theories which are used to study and interpret social phenomena within a particular school of thought. Reaction: Taking into consideration the cultural background of the people or the society, makes an entrepreneur sensitive to the needs of the clients and helps in determining what is appropriate and what is not to be pursued in order to push through the business without predicament.Also, it is very interesting to note that people comprising a society are involved in remarkable or outstanding events, how human behavior or discipline affects relationships, economics and politics. Therefore, understanding the society and its culture will develop a harmonious interaction between and within people involve. REPORT on POLITICAL ANALYSIS Summary: Political Analysis the study of the state, government and politics and its relation to the business community. It is about the wide scope of theory and practice of politics and the study of political systems and political behavior.It has three fields – Political Philosophy, Comparative Politics and International Relations. Political Science uses methods and techniques that connect to the kinds of questions which are tried to be obtained or achieved. Reaction: Considering the kind of political scenario prevailing in this country, it is of great importance to consider political analysis, an in-depth treatment will enable you to deal with circumstances which are within the bounds of political concerns of the nation nowadays.Economic stability rest on the pillars of political stability as well and it will be of major importance to study the predominant political science your are in to blend in and be on safe grounds. REPORT on PROJECT APPRAISAL and PROJECT IDENTIFICATION Summary: Project Appraisal is a process of assessing the case for proceeding with a proposal or a project itself. It includes six (6) major points which starts with Project Identification process wherein collection, compilation and analysis of data to locate potential opportunities to start and development opportunities are done.Defining Project Goals and Objectives relate two (2) different ideas. Goals serve as the â€Å"what† in the process and objectives serve as the â€Å"how†. Project Appraisal also consists of financial assessment – money, profitability and eligibility while technical assessment includes whether a project is keeping with its objectives or is strategic in nature. Reaction: Clearly defined goals and objectives is what really count in pursuing a remarkable project. The formulation of the said goals and objectives should be given enough time and thinking before a project is to be undertaken.The success of any project or business endeavor lies in a well-defined and factual goals and objectives. REPORT on CONTEMPORARY ISSUES in PROJECT MANAGEMENT Summary: The first thing to do in pu tting up as business is deciding what kind of business you are going to venture in. And it will be normal to think of a business that will be patronized strongly by the masses. Considering the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that you might encounter in the process will help you deal with the future issues and potential problems you might encounter on the way.Some of these problems are the following: low capital, limited resources, shift in consumer behavior, availability of raw materials, transportation, labor, marketing, location, laying the ground work, and branding. But despite all these, solutions can be applied in order to avoid encountering the said problems in running a business. Some of these precautionary measures are as follows: establishing a realistic mission, picking a business that is in demand, committing to running business, having enough working capital, and finally, choosing the right marketing campaign.Reaction: It may be said that we can all be business owners but not all of us will succeed in the business endeavors we ought to put up and operate. There are many factors to consider during the process of planning your desired business venture, running it, and maintaining its superiority over the market. It may be deduced that to be able to attain success, one must have the passion and dedication in what he/she is doing. The desire to always to better will make sure that you are on the right track. REPORT on PROJECT MONITORING and MONITORING TOOLSSummary: The primary purpose Project Monitoring is to compare the way things are actually planned to the way things are actually done in a specific project. Employing the use of Project Monitoring Tools like performance indicators, logical framework approach, theory-based evaluation, formal surveys, rapid appraisal method, participatory methods, public expenditure tracking surveys cost-benefit and cost effectiveness and impact evaluation will give project managers the essential info rmation to continue, improve or terminate a certain project.Such monitoring and evaluation of development activities will provide them with better means to improve service delivery, planning and allocating resources and demonstrating results as part of accountability to key stakeholders. Reaction: Project Monitoring is very indispensable in any and every project to engage with. It all starts with cautious planning associated with proper execution of established goals and objectives and close supervision and monitoring which will determine the success of any project. The use of the project monitoring tools will alleviate the burden of handling projects.Proper utilization of tools suitable for the project is vital to the fulfillment of the project goals and will eventually generate prolific results. REPORT on DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION Summary: Diagnostic evaluation is administered not only to identify problems or deficiencies, but also to identify strengths and special talents of students . It also determines the readiness of a student to begin school and if a student in any level of the curriculum has mastered some or all of the objectives he is about to take.The need of the students, especially those disadvantage ones, to acquire first some prerequisite skills is determined through diagnostic evaluation. Proper placement of students is another reason for the need to administer diagnostic evaluation because it will help eliminate boredom for those who have already mastered a certain objective and can avoid discouragement for those lacking them. Diagnostic evaluation makes learning easy for the learners to acquire. Reaction: Good diagnostic is a must because it helps teachers to place students properly in the instructional sequence and to identify causes of repeated failure to learn.But making an appropriate and sound diagnostic material should be taken into consideration because it will make or break the true essence of giving diagnostic evaluation. Teachers should make the implicit assumption that all students bring similar cognitive and affective skills, prerequisites and experiences to their class or subject at the beginning of each year. A teacher should really take time and effort in identifying the presence or absence of prerequisites skills, attitudes, and habits; those students who have already mastered some or all of the objectives; and those gifted or talented individuals who need special attention.The success of learning depends on the accuracy and depth of the diagnosis administered to students. REPORT on FORMATIVE EVALUATION Summary: Formative evaluation is said to be useful not only for curriculum construction but also for instruction and students learning. Formative assessments are focused on the learning process as well as the learning progress. While other assessments may only focus on the end result, formative assessments check the student’s progress consistently so that adjustments can be made to reach learning goals. Both teachers and students participate in formative assessment while learning is taking place through things such as informal observation, immediate feedback and student self-assessment. A formative assessment is consistent and ongoing throughout the learning process. It also provides immediate feedback to both teachers and students due to ongoing assessment practices. Reaction: Formative evaluations is important to meet the goals of a particular educational institution. It provides a venue for the goals to be shared and observations and feedbacks are used by both students and teachers to improve the teaching and learning process.It also gives an opportunity for teachers and students to make adjustments to the teaching and learning strategies uses so learning will ultimately take place. The experiences the students have encountered can also serve as a motivating factor for further learning to ensue. REPORT on EVALUATION TECHNIQUES for KNOWLEDGE and COMPREHENSION OBEJECTIVES Summary: Knowledge objectives imply recall and recognition of the specific elements in a subject area. The two main classes of knowledge items are supply and choice.Examples of supply items are completion item, definition of terms, identification, enumeration, and essay. The following can be administered in using choice items – multiple choice, true or false, and matching type. Comprehension objectives are widely accepted since they indicate understanding, described in terms of the three levels of operations, namely; translation, interpretation, and extrapolation. Reaction: Knowledge is important for the development of ideas and learning to recall or recognize during formal instruction. It should go hand in hand with comprehension because it entails understanding.For teachers to be sure that learning took place in a particular teaching/learning scenario, formulation of evaluation materials which both uses knowledge and comprehension objectives is a must. Another thing which can be in corporated during the construction of the said evaluation materials is the technical know-how of the teacher making the test questions, be it knowledge or comprehension. The â€Å"art of question† should be taken into consideration which will eventually result to a valid and reliable test material. REPORT on ITEM WRITING and SELECTION Summary:Item writing and selection aims to determine what the students learn from teachers; look for different resources to know the topic where will the item came from. There are different kinds of items to construct. These are supply items like essay and short answered item, selection type such as true or false, matching type, multiple choice among others. Item analysis is a process of examining a class who perform individually in a certain test item. Difficulty index is the calculation of proportion of students who got an item correct. Discrimination index is to know the ability to discriminate between high and low performance of the students .Analysis of responses helps the teacher to know what item or topic do students find hard in answering. Reaction: Item writing and selection is an important part of evaluation. It is a process of creating and selecting a set of test to be utilized to determine the learners’ status after the learning process. Items may vary depending upon the lesson or subject taken. It must really test the skills that were taught appropriately so it will be valid. Suggestions given must be followed to achieve the desired result. This will also help the teacher to teach easily and give the appropriate approach to the students based from the results acquired.REPORT on NATURE of SMALL BUSINESS Summary: Businesses touch our lives on a daily basis. We meet them anywhere we go. We are confronted by their outputs every time we move. All of them affect our economy in one way or another. Their success of failure spells growth or decline in the economic well-being of our country. This very important se ctor of our economy is of various kinds. They may be classified according to products sold, activity, or size. According to size, they may be further classified as small, medium, or large. In many ways, they complement each other.Among the three, it is small business that is most readily seen although in some ways, it may not be so. A small business is one which is â€Å"independently owned and operated and which is not dominant in its field of operation. † The term â€Å"independently owned† means ownership is by a private individual, a partnership, or a corporation. The term â€Å"not dominant† indicates that a small business does not control a sizeable share of its market. Reaction: Business, may it be small or large scale is very helpful in our economy. They are like the backbone of the economy. They support the country in many ways like giving employment.Business can be classified into different types. Each type provides different assistance not only to the economy but to the country. Putting up a business needs a careful planning because it involves investments. REPORT on ANALYSIS of ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES to EVALUATION Summary: Evaluation is systematic study that is designed, conducted and reported in order to assist a client group to judge and/or improve the worth and/or merit of some object. Using the proposed definition, the study types presented in this book was examined to see whether it fitted into one (or perhaps more) of three broad distinct groups.Covert investigations are the first type is labeled â€Å"covert evaluation,† although it might just as well be called politically controlled evaluation. Its advance organizers are implicit or explicit threats faced by the client for evaluation money. Public-relations inspired studies is a similar case of pseudo evaluation is the study that is planned, conducted, and used to serve public-relations purposes. The purpose of the study is to help the client to create a positive image for an institution, program, process, and the like. Reaction:In business, everything can happen and can be done. One kind of evaluation that caught my attention is the pseudo evaluation among other kinds of evaluation discuss. It is a kind of evaluation that gives false results just for the business to survive. People should really be aware of this because it may affect other business. REPORT on SUCHMAN and the SCIENTIFIC APPROACH to EVALUATION Summary: Suchman and the scientific approach to evaluation have three main aspects such as conceptual, methodological and administrative aspects.Suchman supported the purposes of evaluation listed by Bigman (1961) which are to discover whether and how well objectives are being fulfilled, to determine the reasons for specific successes and failures, to uncover the principles underlying a successful program, to direct course of experiments with techniques for increasing effectiveness, to lay the basis for further research on the reasons for the relative success of alternative techniques and to redefine the means to be used for attaining objectives, and even to redefine sub goals, in the light of research findings.The types of evaluation are ultimate evaluation, pre-evaluative research and short term evaluation. Categories of evaluation are effort, performance, and adequacy of performance, efficiency and process. Reaction: Suchman’s scientific approach to evaluation focuses on the conceptual, methodological and administrative aspects. It is a process that is scientifically design to have a reliable and valid outcome. REPORT on PROJECT EVALUATION Summary: Project is an investment activity where we expand capital resources to create a producing asset from which we can expect to realize benefits over an extended period of time.Evaluation is a step by step process of collecting, recording and organizing information about project results including short-term outputs and immediate and longer term project outcomes. There are many reasons why we perform evaluation, here are some: selection, monitoring, justifying, validating, improving and research. Purposes of evaluation are: to find out how well community or participants needs were met, to improve the initiative, to assess the outcomes or impacts, to understand why it does or does not work, to find out how it is operating, to assess whether its objectives were met and to assess its efficiency or cost-effectiveness.There are two types of evaluation which are formative and summative. Evaluations in relation to education are oral quizzes, written tests and performance tests. Guides in making an evaluation report are executive summary, tables of contents, background, project description, evaluation designs and methods, analysis, limitations, results and discussions and recommendations. Reaction: Project evaluation is necessary because it diminishes errors in your project.It refines your project in a way that if the results or evaluation fails due to uncertainties, you can go back to your objectives or processes and make some pencil pushing to achieve the desired outcomes. In relation to education, if the teacher, at the end of the lesson and evaluation of students, found that the results of the evaluation through examination or quiz fail, she can make some revisions perhaps in her procedure, teaching style or objectives that had been set if the learners cannot achieve it. If changes have taken place, it is for the achievement of the better outcomes.REPORT on STUFFLEBEAM’S IMPROVEMENT-ORIENTED EVALUATION Summary: Stufflebeam’s improvement-oriented evaluation has a CIPP model. The basic framework of the CIPP was: Complete Evaluation, Input Evaluation, Proper Evaluation, Product Evaluation Symptomatic Illness of Educational Evaluation by the PDK ( Phi Delta Kappa) Committee, Avoidance, Anxiety, Immobilization, Skepticism, Lack of guidelines, Poor advice, Problems that needed to addressed in improving the conceptu al base for evaluation work are definition, values, level, research design.Evaluation is the process of delineating, obtaining, and providing descriptive and Judgmental information about the worth and merit of some object’s goals, design, implementation, and impacts in order to guide decision making, serve needs for accountability, and promote understanding of the involved phenomena. The relevance of four evaluation types of decision making are context, input, process and product.An overview of the CIPP categories is the primary orientation of context evaluation is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of some object, such as an institution, a program, a target population, or a person, and to provide direction for improvement. Reaction: Stufflebeam’s improvement-oriented evaluation is a process of evaluation that follows a CIPP model or Complete, Input, Product, and Process approach. This aims to guide the implement evaluation.

Nike and Child Labour

Nike and child labour Nike is a household name when it comes to sports apparel and equipment. It has worked hard to burnish its image, especially by garnering endorsements from big names in the sports world,such as Michael Jordan. But in 1996 its silver image began to tarnish. It knew it was in trouble when an article on child labour in Pakistan appeared in Life magazine with a picture of a 12-year-old boy sewing a Nike soccer ball in a factory, and activists started showing up in front of Nike outlets holding posters with the boy's picture on it.Although child labour is illegal in Pakistan, the law is not enforced and child labour is widespread. The factory in question was not run by Nike, but by a subcontractor or supplier. Nonetheless,Nike was held responsible by many,especially in the US and Canada. One immediate result was a ,,Boycott Nike† movement, which has continued to monitor and report on Nike's actions. Nor was the report from Pakistan an isolated incident for Nike. Also in 1996, CBS's 48 Hours reported on working conditions in Vietnam, featuring Nike and the abuses of workers who made some of Nike's prosucts.Since 1996, Nike has been charged by critics with engaging in a variety of unethical employment practices in countries that exercise little or no control over the conditions of labour or whose governments are corrupt and can be bought off. For Nike had and continues to have a reputation for producing its products in less developed countries, known for the cheapest labour and the laxest law enforcement, including China, Viet Nam, Bangladesh and Indonesia.At Nike's invitation, the Viet Nam Labour Watch conducted a six-month investigation and its report details discrepancies between what Nike told American customers and what the group itself uncovered. One significant item in the report is the statement that non-Nike shoe factories the group visited in Vietnam had better working conditions and paid haigher wages. In 1998 , Nike pledged to ma ke sure its factories adhered to acceptable labour practices and agreed to let labour and human rights groups inspect its facilities.Yet its critics continued to track the company. In 2000, Victoria International Development Education Association (VIDEA) in Canada published a book of facts about Nike, which noted among other things that Nike, which paid its 80,000 Indonesian factory workers ten cents an hour,could double their wages at a cost of less than 20,000,000-the amount that Nike paid Michael Jordan for promoting its products. It paid $200 million to sponsor the Brazilian soccer team. VIDEA also claimed that the cost of making one pair of Nike running shoes was approximately $5. 0, although they retail for more than $100 and for as much as $189. The figures by themselves, of course, do not present the whole picture. However, at least on the surface they suggest exploitation of labour and a terrible disparity between manufacturing and advertising expenditures. In 2001, Nike's CEO, Philip Knight ,claimed that the company's policy with respect to the employment of child labour was ,,the highest in the world: 18 for footwear manufacturing, 16 for apparel and equipment. ‘ Nonetheless, he acknowledged that there were instances in which the company used contract factories abroad, where the policies had been violated. With respect to the company's violations in Cambodia, violations reported by the BBC, Mr. Knight cited the fact that evidence of age could buy there for as little as $5 and that, following the charge, the company re-examined all employee records there. The reply did not satisfy critics. The athletic shoe company has been the centre of a controversy over its responsibility for the mistreatment of the workers who make its shoes.Nike does not actually manufacture any of the athletic shoes it sells. Instead,Nike designs its shoes in Seattle,and then pays companies in developing countries (China, Indonesia, India, etc. ) to make the shoes accordi ng to these designs. These foreign supplier companies have directly mistreated and exploited their workers. Nike has claimed that it is not morraly responsible for this mistreatment, because the supplier companies caused the injuries of their employees. Thus, Nike itself did not cause the injuries.Critics have responded that although it is true that Nike did not directly cause the injuries, Nike could have prevented those injuries by forcing its suppliers to treat their workers humanely. If it is true that Nike had the power to prevent the injuries, and should have done so, then Nike met the first condition for moral responsibility. However, if Nike was truly powerless to prevent the injuries-if Nike had no control over the actions of its suppliers-then it did not meet the first condition.People are morally responsible for an injury when they failed to prevent it, only if they ,,should have† prevented it. People cannot hold morally responsible for all the injuries they know ab out and fail to prevent. Each of us is not morally responsible for failing to save all the members of all the starving groups in the world that we learn about by reading the newspapers, even if we could have saved some of them. If we were morally responsible for all these deaths,then we would all be murderers many times over and this seems wrong.A person is responsible for failing to prevent an injury only when, for some reason, the person had an obligation to prevent that particular injury. Such an obligation generally requires some sort of special relationship to the injury or the injured party. For example, if I know I am the only person near enough to save a drowning child, and I can do so easily, then m special physical relationship to the child creates in me an obligation to save the child and so I am morally responsible for the child's death if I fail to prevent it.Or if I am a police officer on duty and see a crime thet I can easily prevent, then, because it is my job to pre vent such crimes, I have a specific obligation to prevent this crime and I am morally responsible if I fail to do so. Employers likewise have a special oblgation to prevent work injuries on their employees and so are morally responsible for any foreseen work injuries they could hav prevented. The second requirement for moral responsibility is concerned with the agent's knowledge of the relevant aspects in a situation. The person must know what she is doing.If a person is ignorant of the fact that her actions will injure someone else, then she cannot be morally responsible for that injury. A person may be ignorant of either the relevant facts the relevant moral standards. I may be sure that bribery is wrong (a moral standard), but may not realize that in tipping a customs official I was actually bribing him into cancelling certain import fees(a fact). In contrast, I may be genuinely ignorant that bribing government officials is wrong (a moral standard), altough I know taht in tipping the customs official I am bribing him into reducing the fees I owe (a fact).Ignorance, however, does not always excuse a person. One exception occurs when a person deliberately stays ignorant of a certain matter to escape responsibility. If Nike managers told their suppliers that they did not want to know what was going on in their factories, they would still be morally responsible for whatever mistreatment went on that they could have prevented. A second exception occurs a person negligently fails to take adequate steps to get information about a matter that has its own importance.A manager is an asbestos company, who has reason to suspect that asbestos may be dangerous, but who, out of laziness, fails to gather information on the matter, cannot plead ignorance as an excuse. The third requirement for moral responsibility: The person must act of his own free will. Someone acts of his own free will when the person acts deliberately or purposefully and his actions are not the result of some uncontrollable mental impulse or external force.A person is not morally responsible if he causes injury because he lacked the power, skill, opportunity. Nor is a person morally responsible when physically forced to inflict an injury on someone else. The same when the agent is physically restraint from doing something to prevent the injury, nor when a person’s mind is psychologically impaired in a way that prevents her from controlling her actions. An employee may injure a fellow worker when a machine he thought he knew how to operate suddenly veers out of his control.A manager working under extremely stressful circumstances may be so tense that one day he is overcome by rage at a subordinate and genuinely is unable to control his actions toward the subordinate. An engineer who is part of a larger operating committee may be unable to prevent the other committee members from making a decision that the engineer feels will result in injury to other parties. An assembly-li ne worker with an un diagnosed malady may suffer muscle spasms that cause the assembly line to malfunction in a way that inflicts physical injuries on other workers.In all of these cases, the person is not morally responsible for the wrong or the injury, because the person did not choose the action deliberately or purposefully, but was forced to inflict the injury by a mental impairment or some uncontrollable external forces. We can distinguish three types of factors that can lessen a person’s moral responsibility:first, we should consider circumstances that minimize,but don’t completely remove a person’s involevement in an act that caused or brought about an injury.This kind of circumstances affects the degree to which the person actually caused or helped to cause the injury. An engineer may be aware of the unsafe features in somebody else’s design,but passively stand by without doing anything about it because ,,that’s no my job’’. I n general,the less one is morally responsible for that outcome. Certain circumstances leave a person uncertain, but not altogether unsure about a variety of matters (facts, moral standards, seriousness of the wrongdoing etc. ). This king of circumstances affects the person’s knowledge.An office worker who is asked to carry proprietary information to a competitor might fell fairly sure that doing so is wrong, yet may also have some genuine uncertainty about how serious the matter is. Finally, there are circumstances that make it difficult but not impossible for the person to avoid doing it. This kind of circumstance affects the person’s free will. Sometimes, middle managers meet intense pressure or threts or to keep certain health information secret from workers or the public, although it is clearly unethical to do so.If the pressures on managers are great enough, then their responsibility correspondingly diminishes. The extent to which these three mitigating circumstan ces can diminish a person’s responsibility for a wrongful injury depends on the seriousness of the wrong. Supposing that I have a firm and my employer threatens to fire me unless I sell a used product that I know will kill someone,it would be wrong for me to obey him,even though loss of a job will impose heavy costs on me.

Discussion Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Discussion Questions - Essay Example Though some people are of the opinion that mufflers are not a safety hazard, the majority think that they are life threatening if removed. Therefore the law is right in slapping heavy fines on people who remove their mufflers while riding their bikes. Property is defined as "ones exclusive right to possess, use, and dispose of a thing" . . . "as well as the object, benefit, or prerogative which constitutes the subject matter of that right."( Barrons Law Dictionary (2nd ed. 1984) Based on this definition, the right to use the land rests with the owner, in this case the farmers who are free to utilize their property in any way they find useful or profitable. But the group demanding a halt to putting up of billboards may be seen to be indulging in â€Å"constitutive rhetoric about rural people, places†¦.† (Pruit.R.Lisa2006).; Their actions maybe motivated more by nostalgia for the idyllic, bucolic image of a farmer’s life and land, while failing to take into consideration his financial and economic constraints. If the billboard assures him guaranteed annual returns which may subsist his livelihood, the farmers are free to allow their land to be used in ways they deem fit. The decision may ultimately be influenced by the legal rhetoric about rural spaces, but in most cases law and its caretakers are far behind reality, holding onto outdated notions of a rural community. Restaurants which prohibit people from their premises, in the presence of clothing deemed unfit by the establishment are merely resorting to the use of Sumptuary Laws, which were traditionally used to reinforce social class system through certain restrictions on ways of dressing and eating. (Ribeiro, Aileen: Dress and Morality2003). Restaurants are engaged in the business of creating an illusion of a higher purpose of reality and it is their avowed aim to keep up the pretense at any cost. The owner of the restaurant has the right to take all

Follow up to S6W4Dq Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Follow up to S6W4Dq - Assignment Example However, critical analysis reveals that its implications may not augur well especially in view of the vast interest United States has in the global arena. Taking this into consideration, it is worth noting that the suggestion of intensifying economic and political negotiations, while moderating U.S.’s military presence in foreign countries is the most feasible alternative. In the debate leading up to the 2012 U.S. presidential elections, Mr. Mitt Romney acknowledged the need of â€Å"strong allies† to serve as a deterrent to would-be aggressors. In addition, he was quick to warn that U.S. must be more prescriptive in the manner it deploys its military force on foreign missions. Echoing the same sentiments was President Obama. Obama insisted on the need of U.S. to concentrate â€Å"on alliances and relationships† in order to assist the foreign partners to improve their ability to defend themselves. In this, President Obama suggested initiating security training programs as well as equipping them to contain regional conflicts (Robert, 2012). In conclusion, I find it feasible for U.S. to increase its economic, political and diplomatic ties with other nations. However, its military presence should be moderated to only advisory and training purposes. Also, by working in conjunction with international bodies such the United Nations and African Union, U.S. can save itself from shouldering the financial burdens as the sole promoter of global democratization. Bremmer, I. (2008, summer). Supposing the United States becomes isolationist. Retrieved 3 29, 2013, from europesworld:

Homeland security Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Homeland security - Research Paper Example Lives and properties were also lost to this collapse as people that plied that route during that fateful day lost their cars, lives to the collapse; some people also sustained injuries. The I-35 W bridge was built in 1967 and its collapse has exposed the vulnerability of other infrastructures to destruction and it has aroused everybody’s consciousness about the neglect of some key structural designs as regards their pending failure, it has further made the respective authorities to closely monitor and regularly inspect these infrastructures in order to guard against their failure (Subramanian, 2008). It is imperative to look into the collapse of this bridge and investigate the causes of the bridge and check whether the disaster could have been averted by taking precautionary measures. The events that followed the collapse of the bridge would also be closely monitored vis-Ã  -vis the response of the emergency management team in ensuring that the amount of casualties was reduced to a minimum. The findings gotten in this paper would help prevent future occurrence of infrastructural destruction and it would ultimately improve the response of the emergency unit in managing situations such as the one that befell the state of Minneapolis in 2007 as we seek to ensure adequate and effective disaster planning and management. There have been warnings concerning the imminent collapse of the 1,900-ft long I-35 W Bridge in Minneapolis as several experts had cautioned the authorities on the likelihood of the disaster. The unfortunate incident occurred on the 1st of August, 2007, just a few minutes past six, the Interstate highway with eight lanes crumbled inside the Mississippi River, plunging people into the Mississippi River and separating them from their vehicles. People and vehicles were displaced around the north and south ends of the bridge. The I-35 W Bridge collapse became a

Posing a problematic question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Posing a problematic question - Essay Example Putting up a home requires flat and leveled ground. According to the picture, the area in question does not hold this characteristic as it is on a steep area hence making it not suitable for human habitation. Other details in the picture are controversial to these assumptions. The leaves could indicate the possibility of trees growing in the area. Another feature is the landscape that is steep in nature. Trees and steep landscape are usually associated with high rainfall that is essential for human existence. The boy in the picture shows human existence in the area despite the harsh conditions surrounding the boy. The boys’ good health demonstrates that there could be possible measures put in place rendering the area harmless by use of mosquito nets to prevent malaria (Oberlender 10). The area in question has more advantages for human habitation than hindrances. In conclusion, we see that with intervention, this area is able to support conditions required for good and healthy living

Company critical analysis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Company critical analysis - Research Paper Example Before devising strategies it is also important to evaluate organizational capabilities after which resources are integrated to enhance these capabilities. Strategic Management: Southwest Airlines The airline industry is one chocked by intense competition and need for constant changes in strategy to outdo competitors. However, the advantage lies in the fact that it is a growing industry as a result of growth in globalization and tourism expands. This notwithstanding each airline is struggling to capture as big market share as possible. The most competitive regions are Europe and North America with numerous airlines serving relatively small geographical areas. The United States airline industry has almost 100 carriers in both regional and major categories’ categories. The current airline industry is defined by a number of issues among them high oil prices, mergers, safety, flight delays and bankruptcies among others. It is therefore harder in the 21st century to run a sustainab le airline than it was in late 20th century (Belobaba, Odoni & Barnhart, 2009). In analyzing strategic management in this industry of choice Southwest Airlines will act as an example. ... An example of these is engagement in corporate social responsibility. Southwest begins this by ensuring that it has offered quarterly dividends to shareholders. It is important to note that it is the only airline to have a record of 33 consecutive years of profitability (Southwest, 2011). The airline offers one of the best working environments as well as salaries. It has the best customer service record as well. The airline has lured its customers into a charitable cause whereby Southwest donates a dollar each time a customer checks in for flights through Facebook. Industrial analysis in respect to Southwest brings into focus the Porter’s 5 Forces. Suppliers have a high bargaining power owing to the fact that Southwest uses only Boeing aircrafts. It is expensive to switch to another manufacturer i.e. Airbus since pilots and engineers will have to be retrained. Fuel costs keep fluctuating leading to high uncertainty and possible losses. Fast trains and boats are acting as subst itutes even over long distances (Grant, 2009). Video conferencing is also curtailing expansion in business travel. Bargaining power of buyers is moderate although airline customers are known to have low loyalty. There is a risk of new entrants especially from foreign carriers but it is unlikely that they will beat the low-cost low-fares strategy. Industrial rivalry is intense with delta, JetBlue, Northwest and others trying to adjust their strategies e.g. lowering ticket prices to align themselves to low-fares strategy. The key success factors of this airline include its market share, price competitiveness, brand awareness, customer service and financial position as indicated in the table below. Fig. 1 Critical Success Factors (Belobaba, Odoni & Barnhart, 2009) Southwest boasts of

Quiet Plant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Quiet Plant - Essay Example Apparently, such rare earth minerals such as cerium and neodymium. However, the process of producing them has severe implications on the environments besides risking the lives of the employees who work in such plants. Countries like China take the risk and permit their companies to operate without regarding the environmental implications of such companies a feature that influences the rarity of the minerals and their high costs. The two minerals are important and lucrative products in the modern economy owing to their significance in the manufacture of smartphones and their accessories. The sale of rare earth minerals is a profitable venture with China enjoying a lion’s share of the global market. However, the companies engage in some unethical operations as they strive to influence the prices of the minerals. Most of the companies induce shortages for the minerals by stopping production. The resulting shortage causes the prices of the minerals to soar thereby safeguarding the profitability for the companies that process the minerals. The large multinational corporations that operate in the processing and sale of the minerals often collude to influence the supply of the market. As the demand grows, they resume production with the minerals enjoying higher prices. Besides engaging in the price manipulation games, the companies engage in unfair labor relations with their employees as they expose their employees to the dangerous working environment as their interactions with hazardous chemicals.

Community medicine in saudi arabia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Community medicine in saudi arabia - Essay Example With the birth of community medicine, the first department of primary care in a military hospital was established in late 1970s and later known as family and community medicine. The most significant breakthrough in the field of family and community medicine was the establishment of the Saudi Board of Family and Community Medicine in 1995. Applicants for family and community medicine program underwent a four-year internship, followed by final examination from the board, fifteen months of training to designated centers, and accomplishing specialties and sub-specialties in the hospital. Health practitioners’ interests in family and community medicine became evident in 2003 when almost 80 candidates compete for the limited training posts in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City residency training programs at National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, KSA. In fact, most of the hospitals and health affairs in KSA have family and community medicine or primary care departments. The developmental b reakthrough achieved by family and community medicine as a clinical specialty will require further studies on the nature and characteristics of family and community medicine. Work Cited Al-Shehri, Ali  M.  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Family and Community Medicine in Saudi Arabia. Development and Future.† Saudi Medical Journal 25.10 (2004):  1328-1330.

Seminars, Webinars, Conferences - Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Seminars, Webinars, Conferences - Report - Essay Example In this regard, the event was a success as these professionals took their time to attend this year’s event and gave their contribution towards the theme. The theme for the event was â€Å"Aviation Safety Emerging Issues†. The timing of this conference was very suitable as it was in the wake of increased terrorism and aircrafts are a major target for terrorist in advancement of their activities. The topics covered during the conference included safety stand-down, situational awareness, airspace infringements, aircraft maintenance, safe airmanship and effective flight communication. Each topic had a presenter and at the end of every presentation, there was an interactive session where critical questions were asked by the audience and answered by the presenter. The presenters were mostly from aviation authorities and aircraft manufacturing. The subject on safety stand-down took longer as it attracted a lot of contributions from the stakeholders present since it touches on the level of responsibility of airmen. Degree of adherence to codes of conduct and discipline of airmen affects aviation to a considerable degree. As an aviation safety officer, the conference opened up a lot of knowledge avenues and brought invaluable exposure as the participants shared their different experiences in safety. The safety stand-down played a critical role in influencing the way of thinking for airmen, airport security officers as well as the management in terms of handling risky situations. For those in aviation safety career, the stand-down equipped them with new and effective methods and procedures for improving the safety of everybody within the airports and aircrafts as well as proper judgemental skills. In the event of a safety breach of any kind, proper judgement is imperative, and this is determined by how well the safety official is aware of the situation. When one

Online School Vs. Traditional Essay Example for Free

Online School Vs. Traditional Essay According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 4.3 million undergraduate students, or 20 percent of all undergraduates, took at least one distance education course in the 2007-08 school year. And about 0.8 million, or 4 percent of all undergraduates, took their entire program through distance education (May, Ryan). There are many pros and cons about distance and traditional education, as well as many similarities and differences. Online education is a more flexible option for students to get an education since most classes can be taken anywhere you are able to take your laptop or hook up to the internet. It’s very convenient for people who have a busy lifestyle, such as families, full-timer workers, and those who serve in the military. With online learning, students don’t have the traditional methods of sitting at a desk and learning with lectures and books. You have the freedom to learn your way at your own comfort level. Studies have shown that in online learning conditions perform better than those receiving traditional instruction (NCU). However, for some, lectures in the classroom are more beneficial to them since some need more a more hands on approach. A disadvantage of online learning is not having your degree being seen as creditable. Be sure that your college choice is accredited since there are many â€Å"Degree Mills† out looking for your money. There are many students and employers who are skeptics about how much you really do learn from online learning. According to Allie Bidwell from USA news, In a survey of 656 human resources professionals released Wednesday, the researchers found that although nearly half of employers said online-only programs require more discipline, 56 percent said they still prefer applicants with traditional degrees from an average university over those with an online degree from a top university. Overall, most employers (82 percent) said a combination of in-person and online education would benefit the majority of students (Bidwell, 2013). Most employers are going to view how effective an online education is by the quality of the new hires  they bring in. Cost is another consideration to think of when deciding to go online or traditional. Online education is less expensive since there are no extra fees for maintaining a large campus or classrooms. Some classes may not even require books for you to purchase. Either way you choose to go, there are still rules and guidelines that must be followed. Along with that, attendance is still a must with online education and participation in discussions just as you would participate in a classroom. Depending on the type of person you are and the lifestyle you live, either online or traditional education will be right for you. Before getting into either one, students should carefully research both to find out which is the right fit for them. References Bidwell, A. (2013). Employers and Students Remain Skeptical of Online Learning. Retrieved from http://www.usanews.com/news/articles/2013/09/20/employers-students-remain-skeptical-of-online-education North Central University. Online Education Versus Traditional Education. Retrieved from http://www.ncu.edu/why-northcentral/online-learning/learn-more Dudley, S. (2013) Why Online Education Is More Valuable than Traditional College. Retrieved from http:// http://www.wired.com/2013/11/why-online-learning-is-more-valuable-than-traditional-college/ May, R. Traditional Education vs Online Education-Should You Switch? Retrieved from http://www.businessdictionary.com/article/655/traditional-education-vs-online-education-should-you-switch/

History 17-a American history Essay Example for Free

History 17-a American history Essay Known as the American experiment in liberty and equality, the Civil War of America is supposed to be a major turning point in American history. Originated due to slavery, this war was first revoke from American citizens to acquire the right of liberty and equality. By the war, slavery was extinguished in America. Beginning of nineteenth century was much different from the eighteenth century; this was a revolutionary era in which industrialism was rising against agriculture, nationalization against state particularization and desire of freedom was heading against slavery. However, this moral idealism is not believed as an appropriate reason for the war. In accordance with some historians, it is also called as the war of power and economical affluence. It is said that South was economically abundant than the North. It was making good money in trade and commerce in comparison of North. North was not ready to accept this fact and this resulted as the Civil War. By the time of war, South occupied an area as large as Western Europe and ‘North’ has a strategic assignment to invade and conquer the southern confederation. In this war, southerners were fighting for independence, self-determination, self-government and preservation of life. Nevertheless, results of this war became the decision points for American history as the war grown the offspring of Nationality in Northerners. Southerners wanted to be separated from the American Union and Northerners were not is the support of that. In the battle against southerners, few incidents worked as the turning points of Civil War and American History as well. As instance, Northern Unions hold on Kentucky and Border States in considered as the first turning point of American civil war. This was of a great importance for Northerners. Even president of the nation, Abraham Lincoln said that ‘I can’t think of loosing Kentucky’, Kentucky was a southern state. Considered as the first modern war, the civil war of America made the nation, which is known as ‘United States of America’. During this war, Abraham Lincoln was mainly focused on Border States. He was not in favor of self-government in these states. Border States were extremely crucial for Northerners, as these states were physically separating Northern Union and Southern Confederacy. Bull Run is taken as another major defining moment in the history of Civil War. This was a land battle. This battle was full of anticipations and both sides were sure about their victory. However, Northerners managed to win this was a Herculean task for them and it was an end of southern hopes to set the self-government. Union capture on Mississippi, Forts Henry and Donelson in February 1862 is also considered as the major turning point in Civil War. It was first significant victory of union. Victories in Battle of Anteitam and Battle of Gettysburg made unions to move more rapidly in the direction of uniting American states. A defeat of Confederacy in the Battle of Chattanooga is taken as one of the most prominent turning point of Civil War. In this war Union reduced Confederacy to the Atlantic coast. This opened the way for Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. Two incidents that took place in 1864 are taken as the last nail in the coffin of southern confederacy’s desire of self-government, independence and self-determination. These two incidents were Union capture on Atlanta and reelection of Abraham Lincoln. Both incidents respectively took place in September 1864 and November 1864. Civil War: the First Modern War American Civil War is taken as the first modern warfare. Confronted with various viewpoints and issues, this war is marked as the well mobilized war of the modern age. In accordance with historians, it deserves to be the first modern war due to its two important reasons. First reason is its technological advancements and another is a great change in the logistics and tactics applied in the battlefield. Northern generals Ulysses S.  Grant and his sub-ordinates applied strategies those were far ahead from the war approaches applied by the time. The morality war of Northern Americans against Southerners also resulted in many mesmerizing innovations, those helped in nation moving at the forefront from rest of the world. Cannons, rapid fire guns, Gatling gun, telegraphs and aerial warfare are considered as some of the stirring innovations of Civil War period. The civil war also worked as the rapid fire in the growth of American economy. It is also said that this was the beginning of American supremacy. This war was the first war in which army was not involved in killing on one-to-one manner. It was entirely technical. Both Unions and Confederacy army troops were relying on technical weapons instead of traditional ones. This was the first time when air warfare and sea warfare modes were also used. This war was the first war when a strategy of destruction was used and it also boosted he idea of unconditional surrender in the battle-field. In this was Union troops used telescopes and air-balloons to locate the position of enemy. Civil War of American History is known as first war due to it’s a completely foreign planning in accord with the world of nineteenth century. Following reasons the major basis of knowing this was as the first modern war- Railroads: Invention of railroad played a very important role in supplying armies with food, bullets, and soldiers. These cars were armed with weaponry. Hospitals: This was the first time when hospitals were set in battle field. Women s uch as Clara Barton and Dorothea Dix worked in these hospitals to give medical treatments to inured soldiers. Nevertheless, by the time medical knowledge was not advanced as today and mortality rate of soldiers due to disease was greater than their death in battle field. This was the first time in the context of using dogs as armor. Photography and Telegraph- by the time ‘Photography’ and ‘Telegraphy’ science had been introduced. Army troops used the science of photography is taking pictures of enemy position and Telegraph helped them in sending urgent messages. This is considered as a boon created from the devastation of Civil War. Secret Service: Both sides employed highly structured spy service to gain knowledge of army movements. Women and slaves played major role in this. Personnel: Numbers of African Americans fought in the Civil War was not less, most of them participated in the war from the side of Union army. They often fought in regiments those were separated out regiments. This was the first time when they had an identity of soldiers other than slaves. An ambitious win for Abraham Lincoln, civil War was the first time when rights of equality were believed to be a reason of war.

Collaborative Learning Heterogeneous Versus Homogeneous Grouping

Collaborative Learning Heterogeneous Versus Homogeneous Grouping As EFL teachers we are concerned with two main issues in language learning. The first issue addresses the skills students should acquire in EFL classes as a result of teaching-learning experiences. Such skills are often measured by students achievement. The second issue takes account of the strategies EFL teachers use to help students acquire such skills and in turn increase their achievement. Writing is a skill which requires efforts from both the student and the teacher. It is one of the four language skills which is given emphasis in second language learning (Inggris 2009). Writing is one of the skills which need to be mastered by the learners. They learn different genres of writing like descriptive, expository, recount and narrative based on the prescribed syllabus of their providers. Language learning involves learning the language code as well as the culture (appropriate ways of thinking and acting) associated with the language (Becket Gonzales 2004). Students writing abilities are affected by the type of instructions teachers use within their classroom practices. Writing is one of the productive skills that learners are expected to achieve in order to ensure their communicative competence. While learning writing, students are supposed to get involved in many activities that enable them to produce a piece of writing at the end. They can be engaged for example in class discussions, act in role playing or get involved in peer editing. While engaged in classroom activities students build up experience and have more practice that may finally give the chance to reach a proper product of writing. In teaching writing, teachers strive hard to find strategies to facilitate increasing students achievement. There are many methods adopted by the teachers in teaching EFL writing in the classrooms. One of the methods recommended in teaching writing is the incorporation of cooperative learning (Kagan 2002). In ability grouping, students are grouped in a variety of more flexible ways so that they spend some portion of a school day in heterogeneous groups and some portion in homogeneous groups. (Grady et al 2007). In most EFL classes, some learners perform better beyond grade-level, others struggle with target language, while another great part of the class falls somewhere in between. In their effort to meet the needs of such a diverse students, educators tend to assign pair and group work with students of different ability levels finding ways to involve all students in the activities. These ways could include communicative and cooperative tasks to allow scaffolding of less advanced students. In this classroom environment advanced level learners act as a bridge to facilitate the learning process and lower level classmates exhibit a willingness to cross that bridge (Sean, 2002.   As a general rule, it would seem reasonable to suggest that classroom harmony might better be achieved in a group of motivated students who are allowed to participate and cooperate. Statement of the problem Teachers and educators seem to have struggled for decades to find answers to questions about heterogeneous and homogeneous grouping: Does anyone benefit from each? Is anyone harmed by each? Who benefits (or is harmed) the most? Why? Are there alternatives to these two types grouping? The answers are not always clear-cut and often depend on whom you ask and what learning outcomes are considered important. To many educators, grouping is considered a sensible response to academic diversity. To others, the practice has harmful unintended consequences and should be abandoned. Indeed, research, logic, and emotion often clash when debating the topic of grouping. But what do we really know? Consequently, this study aims to investigate the effect of homogeneous grouping versus heterogeneous grouping on EFL students achievement in writing in the hope that it may settle the argument on which is better for both high and low achievers. Homogeneous grouping can be defined as dividing students into small groups which include students of the same ability or level for example high achievers together and low achievers together . While heterogeneous grouping can be defined as dividing students into groups that include mixed or different levels, high and low achievers together. Theoretical Framework Cognitive growth springs from the alignment of various perspectives as individuals work to attain common goals. Both Piaget and Vygotsky saw cooperative learning with more able peers and instructors as resulting in cognitive development and intellectual growth (Johnson, et al., 1998). The assumption of behavioral learning theory is that students will work hard on tasks that provide a reward and that students will fail to work on tasks that provide no reward or punishment. Cooperative learning is one strategy that rewards individuals for participation in the groups effort. A review of the literature on cooperative learning shows that students benefit academically and socially from cooperative, small-group learning (Gillies, 2002). Cooperative learning can produce positive effects on student achievement (Cohen, 1986; Davidson, 1989; Devries Slavin, 1978; Johnson Johnson, 1989; Okebukola, 1985; Reid, 1992; Slavin, 1990). Academic benefits include higher attainments in reading comprehension, writing (Mathes, Fuchs, Fuchs, 1997) and mathematics (Ross, 1995; Whicker, Nunnery, Bol, 1997) and enhanced conceptual understanding and achievement in science (Lonning, 1993; Watson, 1991). Social benefits include more on-task behaviors and helping interactions with group members (Burron, James, Ambrosio, 1993; Gillies Ashman, 1998; McManus Gettinger, 1996), higher self-esteem, more friends, more involvement in classroom activities, and improved attitudes toward learning (Lazarowitz, Baird, Bolden, 1996; Lazarowitz, Hertz-Lazarowitz, Baird, 1994). According to Slavin (1987), there are two major theoretical perspectives related to cooperative learning motivational and cognitive. The motivational theories of cooperative learning emphasize the students incentives to do academic work, while the cognitive theories emphasize the effects of working together. Motivational theories related to cooperative learning focus on reward and goal structures. One of the elements of cooperative learning is positive interdependence, where students perceive that their success or failure lies within their working together as a group (Johnson, Johnson, Holubec, 1986). From a motivational perspective, cooperative goal structure creates a situation in which the only way group members can attain their personal goals is if the group is successful (Slavin, 1990,). Therefore, in order to attain their personal goals, students are likely to encourage members within the group to do whatever helps the group to succeed and to help one another with a group tas k. There are two cognitive theories that are directly applied to cooperative learning, the developmental and the elaboration theories (Slavin, 1987). The developmental theories assume that interaction among students around appropriate tasks increases their mastery of critical concepts (Damon, 1984). When students interact with other students, they have to explain and discuss each others perspectives, which lead to greater understanding of the material to be learned. The struggle to resolve potential conflicts during collaborative activity results in the development of higher levels of understanding (Slavin, 1990). The elaboration theory suggests that one of the most effective means of learning is to explain the material to someone else. Cooperative learning activities enhance elaborative thinking and more frequent giving and receiving of explanations, which has the potential to increase depth of understanding, the quality of reasoning, and the accuracy of long term retention (Johnson, Johnson, Holubec, 1986). Therefore, the use of cooperative learning methods should lead to improved student learning and retention from both the developmental and cognitive theoretical bases. Several studies have examined the effects of cooperative learning methods on student learning. Humphreys, Johnson, and Johnson (1982) compared cooperative, competitive, and individualistic strategies and concluded that students who were taught by cooperative methods learned and retained significantly more information than students taught by the other two methods. Sherman and Thomas (1986) found similar results in a study involving high school students taught by cooperative and individualistic methods. In a review of 46 studies related to cooperative learning, Slavin (1983) found that cooperative learning resulted in significant positive effects in 63% of the studies, and only two studies reported higher achievement for the comparison group. Johnson, Maruyama, Johnson, Nelson, and Skon (1981) conducted a meta-analysis of 122 studies related to cooperative learning and concluded that there was strong evidence for the superiority of cooperative learning in promoting achievement over competitive and individualistic strategies. Johnson and Ahlgren (1976) examined the relationships between students attitudes toward cooperation, competition, and their attitudes toward education. The results of the study indicated that student cooperativeness, and not competitiveness, was positively related to being motivated to learn. Humphreys, Johnson, and Johnson (1982) also found that students studying in a cooperative learning treatment group rated their learning experience more positively than did students in competitive and individualistic treatment groups. In a study involving elementary and secondary students Wodarski, et al., (1980) found that 95% of the elementary students enjoyed the cooperative learning activities and that they had learned a lot about the subject. Cooperative learning has its roots in the theories of social interdependence, cognitive development, and behavioral learning. Some research provides exceptionally strong evidence that cooperative learning results in greater effort to achieve, more positive relationships, and greater psychological health than competitive or individualistic learning efforts (Johnson, Johnson, Holubec, 1994( Social interdependence theory views cooperation as resulting from positive links of individuals to accomplish a common goal. The Gesalt psychologist Kurt Koffka proposed in the early 1900s that although groups are dynamic wholes the interdependence among members is variable. Kurt Lewin (1948) stated that interdependence developed from common goals provides the essential essence of a group. This interdependence creates groups that are dynamic wholes. The power of the group is such that a change in any member or subgroup directly changes any other member or subgroup. Within cognitive development theory, cooperation must precede cognitive growth. According to Emmer and Gerwels (2002) some research on cooperative learning has addressed instructional components. In a number of studies students have been taught interaction skills, such as how to question or to help each other so that they did not give answers but facilitated each others thinking (Fuchs, Fuchs, Kazdan, Allen, 1999; Gillies Ashman, 1996, 1998; Nattiv, 1994; Webb, Troper, Fall, 1995). And, when students are taught such skills, positive outcomes such as increased intrinsic motivation, liking for school, and self-esteem can result (Battistich, Solomon, Delucchi, 1993). Homogeneous grouping Homogeneous grouping has been proposed and implemented as a potential solution to meet the needs of the mixed ability classes, suggesting that students of different abilities can be gathered in groups of same ability thereby facilitating instruction (Slavin, 1987). This kind of grouping is based on the pedagogical principle that the teacher has the advantage of focusing instruction at the level of all the students in the particular group (Ansalone, 2000). It is assumed that teachers of mixed ability classes can increase the pace and raise instruction level for high achievers whereas low level students can enjoy individual attention. So, advanced pupils are taught more difficult concepts while low achievers deal with simple and fewer things. Proponents of homogeneous grouping opine that it is an excellent means of individualizing instruction. Achievement is considered to increase as teachers adjust the pace of instruction to students needs. Kulik and Kulik (1982) and Slavin (1987) carried out meta-analyses of studies at the elementary school level, finding benefits of within-class ability grouping. Both low ability students and more advanced ones placed in separate groups, benefited from instruction addressed to their level. More recently, Mulkey et al (2005) found that same ability grouping has persistent instructional benefits for both high and low level students. Marsh (1987) supports HG as a way of coping with mixed ability classes assuming that grouping children homogeneously enables those in lower ability groups to profit with respect to self-evaluation by being isolated from advanced peers. Furthermore, Allan (1991) supports that pupils model their behaviour after the behaviour of similar ability children who are coping well with their school work. The supporters of homogeneous grouping conclude that research fails to support that homogeneous grouping doesnt accomplish anything (Loveless, 1998). Although teachers of mixed ability classes seem to have positive attitudes towards homogeneous grouping (Scherer, 1993, Mulkey et al, 2005), the last quarter of the 20th century witnessed severe criticism of ability grouping. It has been declared that this type of grouping stigmatizes lower ability students, offering them inferior instruction. Several researchers argue that homogeneous grouping does not guarantee that all advanced or all weak students are alike. Matthews (1997) conducted a relevant research with students in grades 6 through 8 finding that gifted students are considerably more diverse than they are homogeneous. They vary in their degrees of advancement, their abilities, their learning styles and interests, their test-taking skills, and their social/emotional development. So, gathering advanced children of the mixed ability classes together in one group may not be the wisest solution to the problem. Ability grouping may decrease the self-esteem and aspirations of low ability children and therefore decelerate their academic progress. Welner and Mickelson (2000) carried out quite an extensive research review finding that low ability children are exposed to lowered expectations, reduced resources and rote learning. Childrens self-concept is affected and expectations are internalized (Ireson and Hallam, 1999, Gamoran, 1987). This implies that students of low ability in mixed ability classes are provided with low expectations if placed in same ability groups causing them feelings of inferiority. This is confirmed by Ansalone (2001) and Hallinan (1994) who demonstrated that children assigned to lower ability groups, are exposed to less and more simplified versions of the curriculum whereas high ability groups have broader and more challenging material covered. In this sense, Oakes (1992) and Wheelock (2005) support that educational benefits in mixed ability settings are not provided b y homogeneous grouping but rather by a challenging curriculum and high expectations. Research has accumulated evidence indicating that schooling tends to increase individual differences (Van der Veer and Valsiner, 1991). Homogeneous grouping seems to add more opportunities to advanced learners who are usually middle-class or upper-middle-class children, depriving pupils who already suffer from socio-economic segregation, or those who are learning less fast. Kozo seems to agree that homogeneous grouping damages not only low but also high-ability students as the latter who are usually the affluent children are not given any opportunities to learn the virtues of helping others or learning about unselfishness (Scherer, 1993). It is inferred that grouping students homogeneously for instruction on the mixed ability classes is one more advantage conferred on those who already enjoy many. Heterogeneous grouping Cooperative learning Heterogeneous grouping, that is gathering children of varying abilities in same groups has been proposed by many researchers as an effective strategy to promote academic development of students having diverse background knowledge and abilities. Brimfield, Masci and Defiore (2002) believe that all students deserve an academically challenging curriculum (p.15). So, our goal is to find a way to engage all pupils of the mixed ability classroom in the lesson irrespective of their abilities. The authors point out that by creating mixed-ability groups, we send the compelling message that everybody is expected to work at the highest possible level as high and low ability students deal with the same challenges. Disadvantaged pupils are at reduced risk of being stigmatized and exposed to a dumped-down curriculum in a mixed-ability setting. Teachers expectations for all pupils are maintained at higher levels and less able students have opportunities to be assisted by more able peers. It is assumed that heterogeneous grouping provides pupils access to more learning opportunities. Johnson and Johnson (1987) recommend assigning children of high, medium, and low abilities in the same group maximizing the heterogeneous make up of each group. Such ability diversity within the same group creates an effective learning environment (Manlove and Baker, 1995) providing learning opportunities for low-level students as well as opportunities to more advanced children to provide explanations to others revising, consolidating and using some things they have encountered before. The teachers can use cooperative tasks among high and low achievers of mixed ability groups or pairs in order to promote task engagement of all students in the mixed ability class as advanced children can provide explanations and guidance in carrying out a task. Cooperative tasks among high and low achievers are valued by the sociocultural theory of Vygotsky (1978). Pupils of mixed ability classes differ at their competence level and prior linguistic experiences. Vygotsky supports that children who are exposed to books and other out-of-school factors which contribute to linguistic development i.e .prior knowledge of English from private institutional instruction, are expected to have already run through a large part of their ZPD. On the other hand, pupils with poor literacy opportunities i.e. without prior knowledge of English may possess a larger Zone of Proximal Development (Van der Veer and Valsiner, 1991). So, they may benefit greatly from peer interactions which are likely to help low level students reach higher levels of performance. In this framework, Lyle (1999) showed that both low and high achieving students value the opportunity to work together as all pupils believed that they benefited. It was concluded that peer interactions can facilitate literacy development especially of low ability students. In this vein, Guralnick (1992) points out that social competence acquired in group work affects the elaboration of all students cognitive competencies, implying that both low and advanced learners of mixed ability classes may gain from such settings. The role of peer learning as contributing to language development has also been emphasized by Mize, Ladd and Price (1985) Webb (1989), Jacob et al (1996) and Slavin (1996). Rogoff (1993) refers to childrens social sharing of their cognition through interaction. When pupils participate in collective activities, they guide each others efforts. According to Tudge and Winterhoff (1993) advanced children give constant feedback through conversation forcing peers to strive for reaching higher levels of performance. Various studies have indicated a positive correlation between cooperative learning and achievement in mixed ability classes. For example, Walters (2000) asserts that cooperative learning is suitable for teachers dealing with increasingly diverse classrooms as it easily accommodates individual differences in achievement. Accordingly, Fulk and King (2001) support that class-wide peer tutoring improves all students learning. They add that serving in the role of tutor seems to be particularly beneficial for improving the self-esteem of students with low achievement while they may, for example, grade their partners reading. Therefore, it appears that CL may satisfy the needs of a mixed ability class. Studies conducted by Pica and Doughty (1985), Porter (1986), and Cotterall (1990) indicate that learners of different abilities produce more in mixed ability pair and group work by helping one another to overcome cognitive obstacles. This conclusion is consistent with Urzuas (1987) finding that the mixed ability children in the observational study conducted, appeared to have developed a sense of power in language through the process of working with trusted peers i.e. writing and revising. The benefits of cooperative learning are more tangible when it comes to written work. ODonnell et al (1985) found that involvement in cooperative dyads can improve the quality of students performance on a written task. Weak students of mixed ability classes can use advanced learners as sources of information, commenting on and critiquing each others drafts in both oral and written formats (Liu and Hansen, 2002). Rollinson (2005:25) attributes this phenomenon to the possibility that peer audiences are more sympathetic than the more distant teacher audience. Peer review groups are also favoured by Huot (2002) and Inoue (2005) and Cotterall and Cohen (2003) who showed the positive effects of scaffolding in mixed ability settings Cooperative activities such as group investigation are likely to encourage shy and low performance students since they have the advantage of requiring the participation of all group or pair members to carry out a task, allowing each member to do something according to ones abilities. Review of Literature Ability grouping can be carried out between-class or within-class (Dukmak 2009). Between-class ability grouping refers to a schools practice of forming classrooms that contains students of similar ability. Within-class grouping refers to a teacherà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s practice of forming groups of students of similar ability within an individual class (Gamoran, 1992; Hollified, 1987) An extensive research has been conducted on ability grouping suggesting that academically, high-achieving students achieve and learn more when they are grouped with other high-achieving students (Gentry Owens, 2002; Grossen, 1996; Hollified, 1987; Page Keith, 1996). In mixed-ability grouping it is difficult to provide an adequate environment for teaching to everyone. Since students differ in knowledge, skills, developmental stage, and learning rate, one lesson might be easier for some students and more difficult for the others (Slavin, 1987b). In ability grouping, high-achieving students view their own abilities more realistically and feel that they are appropriately challenged with their peers (Fiedler, Lange, and Wine-Brenner, 2002). Mixed-ability grouping is based on cooperative learning which demonstrates positive success related to students achievement. In this type of grouping, students work collaboratively to successfully achieve a desired educational outcome and develop a greater understanding and respect for individual differences. All forms of diversity within the learning environment are embraced (Felder Brent, 2001; Freeman, 1993; Saleh, Lazonder, DeJong, 2005). Moreover, in a mixed-ability, teachers respond to the individualized needs of all learners (Kulik Kulik, 1992). The most compelling argument against ability grouping is the creation of academic elites a practice which goes against democratic ideals (Slavin, 1987a). Johnson and Johnson (1999) and Johnson, Johnson and Smith (1998) say that cooperative learning has five basic elements. The elements are positive interdependence, individual accountability, promotive interaction, appropriate use of social skills, and periodic processing of how to improve the effectiveness of the group (Johnson Johnson 1999 ).When these elements are properly implemented, the research has shown that group collaboration in the classroom can increase learning and achievement, social skills, self-esteem, and attitudes toward classmates and school (Slavin, 1990 as cited in Webb, Nemer Zuniga 2002). Placing students in teams or cooperative learning groups has many advantages. It helps to build a students communication skills, can help increase tolerance and the acceptance of diversity, promotes higher level reasoning, promotes increased generation of new ideas, promotes greater transfer of information from one situation to another, increases retention, builds teamwork ski lls, reduces stress, and increased willingness to attempt challenging tasks (Baker Campbell, 2005; Huss, 2006; Lin, 2006; Payne Monk-Turner, 2006; Patrick, Bangel, Jeon 2005; Kim 2004; Vaughn, 2002; Johnson Johnson, 1999; Johnson, Johnson Smith, 1998; Slavin, 1996). The cooperative learning experience also [gives] students the opportunity to review and learn information that they did not understand before the cooperative learning activity (Webb, 2002). According to Lin (2006, ), research has concluded that cooperative learning is the top ranked teaching model that promotes greater higher-order thinking, problem solving, and achievement. Students can remember 75-90% of materials when they learn it in cooperative learning situations (Lin, 2006). In a survey of college students after an experiment involving group work, Payne and Monk-Turner (2006) found that 90% of students favored group work and that 90% learned from their group members. Since 1924, 168 studies have been conducted that compare cooperative learning to competitive and individual learning. These studies have shown that cooperative learning yields higher academic achievement than individual and competitive learning (Johnson, Johnson Smith, 1998). Cooperative learning groups are also said to be particularly beneficial to low academic achieving students and students of color (Huss, 2006; Vaughn, 2002). Cooperative learning groups appear to be successful for many reasons. Students become an instrumental part of the group when they feel their efforts will contribute to the success of the group (Baker Campbell, 2005). Students are successful and learn in cooperative learning groups because [they] learn by doing rather than listening (Payne, Monk-Turner, Smith 2006 ) and because they are actively using the material and information (Zimbardo, Butler, Wolfe, 2003). Cooperative learning also strengthens students social interactions, it gives them the desire to achieve, [to develop] more positive interpersonal relationships, and [have] greater psychological health than competitive or individualistic learning efforts (Johnson, Johnson, Holubec, 1994 as cited in Morgan, 2003, ). Cooperative learning can teach students that (a) that knowledge can be, or should be, shared with fellow students; (b) that differences in opinion can be rationally negotiated even under conditions of test pressur es; and (c) that cooperative learning procedures can be enjoyable and productive (Zimbardo et al., 2003, ). These types of lessons enable students to learn how to work well with others. The interdependent relationships that develop within a group help to facilitate the groups success. Everyone feels the goal of the group will be met if everyone achieves their individual goals (Vaughn, 2002; Morgan, 2004). According to Morgan (2004), group members should also be aware of the fact that a single group member can affect how and/or if the goal is achieved. The cooperative learning experience is most effective when the participants work well together and they successfully achieve their goal. There are many characteristics to successful teams. Some of these characteristics include open communication, effectively listening, open-mindedness, clear roles, an established leader, clearly defined tasks, teamwork where everyone works together and contributes, there are well developed attainable goals (Payne, Monk-Turner, 2006; Baker Campbell, 2005), and a timeline (Payne Monk-Turner, 2006). In a classroom, there are also many things a teacher can do to help insure the success of a group activity. The teacher should provide strong guidance (Payne Monk-Turner, 2006; Baker Campbell, 2005), model the desired behavior, provide immediate feedback, and reward desired behavior (Lin, 2006; Baker Campbell, 2005). The teacher can also use checks and balances to monitor productivity, employ various problem solving strategies (Friend Cook, 2007), leng then the amount of time the group spends together, provide proper group behavior training, establish ground rules (Mitchell, Reilly, Bramwell, 2004) and allow group members rate each other (Lin, 2006). If the teacher monitors, provides rewards and allows the students to rate each other, it may reduce the effects of a slacker and keep students from getting a grade they do not deserve (Payne Monk-Turner, 2006). Students that slack off can demotivate hard working students and give them a negative feeling about group work (Ashraf, 2004). Many studies have been conducted that demonstrate the success of teaming. Robert Slavin has conducted extensive research on the implementation of cooperative learning models in schools. He has examined the effects schools becoming complete cooperative learning centers on their academic achievement. He has found many successful situations where lower performing schools were transformed because they converted to a cooperative learning format (Slavin, 1999 22-23). Payne and Monk Turner (2006) conducted a study that examined how students felt about teams. In this study, they assigned students to groups, gave them an assignment, and then asked them how they felt about the assignment after the group project was completed. They found that 90% of the students had a favorable experience, 90% of the students learned from their group members, and 85% of the students felt they learned teaming skills that could be transcended into business. Baker and Campbell (2005) conducted a study in which stu dents were placed in groups and observed that the students who worked in groups, as opposed to working individually, were more successful because they had more access to knowledge, they felt pressured to succeed to keep the group from failing, and the various personalities helped alleviate the stress of the problems. For example a member often told jokes to help lesson the tension. Additionally, members often provided positive reinforcement and motivation. Placing students in groups to take tests is another way to use cooperative learning and group work. Morgan examined the benefits and nonbenefits of college students completing exams using cooperative learning groups. She concluded that The increased depth of understanding, the feelings of support, respect for others contributions, and the clarification of information produced more students with a greater awareness of the material and more developed social skills to be contributing members of teams (Morgan, 2004 ). The understanding of successful cooperative learning group models not only affects groups in grade school; it also affects groups in jobs and college. According to Payne, Monk-Turner, and Smith (2006) employers want college graduates that have developed teamwork skills. Miglietti (2002) says that group work is commonly used in the workplace and employers want to hire people with these skills. Furthermore, these skills can be learned when student

Men vs Women at the Pool Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Argument

Men vs Women at the Pool It was a Friday afternoon and the sun was shining off of her freckled nose. She was in a rage because her male counterpart had made plans to go the pool with the rest of his male friends. â€Å"Why can’t I go?† She asked in a whiney voice. â€Å" Because this is man time. Besides, you said you had things to do today.† He replied in a deep voice, as he scratched at his five o’clock shadow. It was funny how she would always have her â€Å"Girls Night Out† and he wouldn’t say a word about it. He actually liked the peace and quiet it afforded him. But if the tables were to ever turn as they did on that beautiful day, she could not understand for the life of her where this sudden urge to be separated came from. They both knew what was going to be going on at the pool that day. Groups of men sitting around their coolers talking about the girl with the big butt or helping their friends strategize on how to get the girl in the string bikini to come closer or at least bend over. That is what men do. The ones that are taken help...

hollywood on trial :: essays papers

hollywood on trial The world is full of injustice. Of programs that want to accomplish the right things but get twisted by the people that run them. This essay will deal with the reasons and Birth of the Hays Commission, the ludicrous steps they took to add "morality" to the motion picture industry, and some other sensors of the time. All things said in this essay are true and taken from the Hays correspondence its self. It is a known fact that sex sells. It is used by advertisers to get us to by there product, and likewise it is used by producers and directors to get us to see their films. During he Depression, no one had enough money to buy dinner much less go see a movie. So, there was a increase in the sex that was on the screen to pull in people. Not that there was any rules or guidelines of the studios to follow. It was just they didn't care. There was a outcry by the catholic church and in April, 1934 a committee of bishops were set up named The Legion of Decency. These Bishops would tell all the priests, and they in turn would in turn tell the parishioners what movies were proper to see and what was not. This thought scared the Hollywood studios. A boycott of that size in the middle of a depression would crush them. The heads of all the major studios got together to solve this problem. They knew that they didn't want to lose the Catholics, and they didn't want government intervention. Their solution was to have a board to censor all the movies coming from the major studios (at that time it was legal for studios to own their own theaters so independent films weren't generally seen by the public at large). To head this committee was William Hays. "William Hays was a Republican politician from Indiana with the impatient look a mailman whose paycheck was being sent by mail. Actually he was the Postmaster General in one of the most corrupt administrations of the century, Warren G. Harding"(Gardner, xvii). Because of this, he had friends on high places in the movie industry. Even though his name was on the committee all he was responsible for was making the set of rules.

Interview To Dow Jones :: essays research papers

Interview to Dow Jones Q. What is the biggest challenge facing Dow Jones in the next few years? A. To continue investing in new products and services that will strengthen our franchises, increase our competitiveness and produce new revenue flows in the future, while at the same time being careful in setting priorities, prudent in controlling costs, and committed to producing strong annual profits. Q. Who are the major competitors of Dow Jones? A. In the broadest sense, any quality products or services that compete for the time and attention of busy businesspeople compete with Dow Jones. More specifically, we have some franchises such as The Wall Street Journal that are dominant in their fields. In other cases, we face particular competitors; Dow Jones Telerate, for example, competes with Reuters in offering real-time financial information around the world. We believe, however, that Dow Jones is a unique company in a number of important respects. Our businesses are balanced roughly 50-50 between print and electronic information. More than 40% of our operating profit is now earned outside the U.S. We are a focused company. We are not a media conglomerate, nor an entertainment company. We stick to our business of business, providing information essential to an ever expanding and increasingly interconnected worldwide business community. Q. What is the strategy behind your television operations? A. Dow Jones aims to provide business news in any form customers want it. When we looked at our operations a few years ago, television was the missing means of delivery for our business news. We began by pioneering with Asia's first business channel, Asia Business News, in late 1993 and followed with Europe's first business channel, European Business News, in early 1995. Both have achieved significant distribution success and viewer acceptance. Both also take advantage of Dow Jones' existing news flows and news talent in those regions. When we launch WBIS+ in New York later this year, we will begin daily business programming in the U.S., thus adding the third component of a global business network. The ITT sports programming will help to draw even larger audiences. Q. What is the profile of a typical Wall Street Journal reader? A. The typical reader of the Journal spends 49 minutes every business day with the newspaper. He or she might be a senior executive of a large corporation or the entrepreneur-owner of a smaller company. The reader is more likely to live in California than New York, has a median age of 46 and a median household income of $117,900. Interestingly, most of the customers registering for the Journal's Internet service are not current Journal readers.