Creating Multiple-Choice Test Questions

Creating Multiple-Choice Test Questions Ten Essential Rules for Creating Multi-Choice Questions This article covers the basic rules for creating multiple-choice test questions. These types of tests are often undervalued and not often discussed, partly because they are less exciting than some learning and test techniques such as 3-D learning methods. If your work requires you to use test materials, then it is best to reduce or eliminate the errors that can arise from badly-written test questions. The writing rules listed in this article are designed to ensure tests are more precise. The aim is to end up with questions that are understood as they were intended and that the answer choices are clearly-written without providing hints. And, in case you are not very familiar with the terminology that goes with multi-choice questions, this is also explained below. How Multiple-Choice Questions are Made UpThe questions stem. A number of optional answers.Here is a question and some possible answers: The abbreviation ISD stands for which of the following: Irregular System DesignInstructors Systematic Design Instructional Systems Design Irrelevant System DesignIn this, a), b), c) and d) are the answer options, while a), b), and d) are distractors and c) is the right answer. The following are ten important rules. If there are any others you would like to add, please use the comments form ons website.Questions designed to test critical thinking skills and comprehension rather than merely recallSometimes, multi-choice questions attract criticism for testing nothing more than superficial knowledge recall. It is possible to go deeper by asking students to evaluate events or situations, interpret concepts and/or facts, analyze causes and effects, predict outcomes, and draw inferences.The majority of words should be placed in the stem of the questionIf your preference is to use a stem as opposed to a whole question make sure you put most words in the questions stem. This will allow you make answer choices shorter, thereby rendering them easier to read with less room for confusion.Use precise words and make the structure of sentences simpleThe structure of test or exam questions should be simple so that each one can be easily understood. Do your best to be as accurate as you possibly can be. Different words can mean different things depending on their context and how they are used colloquially.Make answer options a similar lengthAlthough this is not necessarily easy, those who are accustomed to taking tests can get clues to the right answer from the length. Frequently, the right answer is the longest one. If you cannot make all answers a similar length, try to write two long answers and two short ones.Do your best to make distractors sound plausibleIncorrect answer options should seem believable. While this can be difficult, it is best not to throw in obvious distractors (also spelled distracters) because this reduces the validity of a test.The order of correct answer options should be mixed upTry to ensure the majority of correct answer options are not, say, a or b. This happens frequently. Spread correct answer options in random order and do not allow them to form a detectable pattern. When you have written a test, go back and do some reordering if needs be.Double negatives should be avoidedThis should not sound like news! Words like no, not and nor should not be combined in sentences, nor with un prefixes. The following question could, for instance, cause confusion for test-takers: which of these situations would not be unpleasant to a workforce? Turn it around to its positive version e.g. which of these situations would be pleasant to a workforce?Try not to trick those taking your testWhile they may have their faults, the purpose of a test is to evaluate knowledge. So, do not use questions or answer choices that could trick a test taker. If a question or answer option is in any way ambiguous, revise it.Be cautious when using All or None as an answer optionA lot of test writers do not like this particular rule because they find ALL or NONE of the above useful when they run short of distractor ideas. However, these do not necessarily help learning. For example, if it is not used in a consistent manner all the ab ove can be a throwaway answer. This option can additionally promote guesswork where a test-taker feels one or more answer is right. A further problem with the answer none is that you cannot judge if the student really does know the right answer.Use a consistent number of answer optionsHaving answer options that go to i for one set of questions and only to d in the next can leave the test-taker not knowing what to expect and it can create a user-interface problem. Studies cannot seem to agree on whether or not it is best to have three, four or five answer options. However, many believe that four options is a fair and realistic number.

Should You Really Study Abroad in High School

Should You Really Study Abroad in High School SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Are you interested in improving your language skills, traveling, or experiencing new cultures while in high school?Study abroad programs are growing in popularity among high school students, and they area great way to gain new skills and meet new people, although they can also be expensive and challenging if you aren't properly prepared. Read on to learn what a high school study abroad program is, what the benefits and drawbacks are, and whether or not you should participate in one. What Is High School Study Abroad? High school study abroad programs are any program where high school students live in a foreign country and attend school there, usually for a prolonged period of time.They offer students the opportunity to experience a new country and culture, meet new people, gain knowledge, and participate in another country’s education system. High school study abroad programs exist in many countries, with Europe being the most popular continent to study abroad in. Many students choose to participate in programs where they can practice the foreign language they are learning in high school, making Spanish-speaking countries, like Spain and Argentina,someof the most popular destinations. These programs can last anywhere from one week to an entire year, offering participants a lot of variation for how in-depth they would like their study abroad to be. Sometimes these programs are exchanges, in whichyou'll study in a country for a certain period of time while a student from that country comes tostudy at your high school and often live with your family. Some study abroad programs have a specific focus, such as language immersion or intense study of a certain subject;other times you simply study the standard curricula of the school you are attending.As a high school student, I did two study abroad programs: a ten-day exchange in France and a month long program in England. Both were very different from each other, but each had great benefits. What Are Some Popular Study Abroad Programs for High School Students? Studying abroad while in high school has become more popular in the last few decades, and there are now multiple organizations and companies that help match students with relevant programs. Your high school may offer its own program. If it does, this is often the best way to go because it will usually make the logistics of applying to the program, obtaining a visa, and transferring credits (if necessary) much smoother.However, if your school doesn’t offer a study abroad program or the program they offer isn’t what you are looking for, then you can look for programs run through outside organizations. There are a lot of options for high school study abroad programs these days, based on where you’d like to study and what you’d like to do while there. Below are four popular organizations that offer some of the best study abroad programs for high school students. Quest Exchange When: Offers programs in the summer and during the school year Where: Programs in roughly 20 different countries, including Spain, Ecuador, and Thailand Program Length: 3, 5, or 10 months Housing: Choice between host family or boarding Focus: Some programs have specific focuses, such as language or cultural immersion Good option for: Students who want a lot of options. Quest Exchange programs offer participants a wide range of options in terms of where they’d like to study, how long they’d like their program to last, and what type of accommodations they’d prefer. AFS When:Offers programs in the summer and during the school year Where:Programs in over 40 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America Program Length:2 weeks to an academic year Housing: Host family Focus:Some programs have particular focuses such as community service, language acquisition, and cultural immersion. Good Option for:AFS offers programs in a wide variety of countries, so it may be a good option for students interested in living in a country not offered by other study abroad programs. ECI When: Only during the summer Where: France or Spain Program Length:Programs range from 2-4 weeks, with options to extend Housing: Host family Focus: Foreign language skills.They offer group programs where you learn with others in a classroom, or individual programs where you develop your language skills by communicating with your host family. Good Option for:Students who want to improve their French and Spanish skills and live closely with a local family. The individual program option may also be good for students who want to learn language skills in a non-academic setting, since those programs don’t include formal classes. US Department of State The US government offers several opportunities for high school students to study abroad,including the American Youth Leadership Program, the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program, and the National Security Language Initiative for Youth Program. These are competitive programs that are often more difficult to get accepted into than most other study abroad programs.The US Dept. of State also offers scholarships for other study abroad programs. When: Year-round Where: Varies depending on the program Program Length: Most programs last an entire academic year, though some are only a few weeks long. Focus: Programs often focus on learning about different cultures. Good option for: Those looking for a deep cultural experience and who are able to spend an entire academic year in a foreign country. These programs are also a good option for students who may not be able to afford a traditional study abroad program because their costs are typically much lower, and sometimes all expenses are paid for. There are also many other programs available that can be found by searching â€Å"high school study abroad programs† or including a particular country or skill you’d like to learn in the search. You can also ask your guidance counselor for program recommendations. Benefits of Studying Abroad in High School Why would you want to participate in a high school study abroad program? Read on to learn about some of the most important benefits. Gain New Skills and Knowledge If you attend a great program and are motivated to learn, you can gain a lot of new skills and knowledge during your study abroad.The most common of these is improved language skills. Living in a country where a foreign language is spoken is the best way to become fluent because you are exposed to that language all the time. If you attend a program with a focus on language immersion and make it a priority to improve your foreign language skills, you can see significant improvements in your ability to speak another language, especially if you attend a longer program. Study abroad programs can also help you learn more about a particular country, culture, or school subject, depending on the program's focus, although for all programs you have to put effort into learning to get a lot out of your study abroad. Learn About New Cultures Living in a foreign country can expose you to new cultures and ways of living, such as new food, sports, and celebrations if you make an effort to learn about them.Living with a host family also makes it easier to learn about a new culture because the family you are living with will often introduce you to local life by showing you new foods, places to visit, and activities to do. For example, you may learn how to play cricket in India, celebrate Carnevalein Italy, or eat snails in France. While not all study abroad programs make cultural learning a priority, if you attend a program that does it will often offer special events and field trips to help you learn more about local culture.If you are motivated to learn about a new place, even short programs can give you a lot of cultural experience. The ten days I spent in France taught me more about French culture than several years of French class. Meet New People Studying abroad is also a great opportunity to make new friends from other countries and cultures.You will meet new classmates and fellow program participants, as well as members of your host family if you are doing a home stay. Can Include It on College Applications and Resumes Studying abroad while in high school is a great thing to be able to include on your resume and college applications.Studying abroad shows independence, motivation, and a desire to have new experiences and meet new people, all qualities that employers and college admissions officers like to see. Some high school study abroad programs also offer programs that allow you to focus on an area you want to continue studying, such as history or environmental studies. If you choose to participate in one of these programs, you will have even more specialized experience to include on applications. For the program I did in England, I took an archaeology course, and my group ended up discovering evidence of a new Roman-age village. Not only was ita cool experience, but I also included it in my admissions essays for college. Drawbacks of a High School Study Abroad Not everything about studying abroad will be perfect, and it's important to know potential downsides before you enroll in a program. Below are some of the most common drawbacks of high school study abroad programs. Culture Shock While living a new country and experiencing new things can be very exciting, there will also be times when it will be difficult and lonely.Especially if you are participating in a longer program, be prepared for times when you feel frustrated, lonely, or disorientated. Usually these feelings are temporary, but sometimes they can last for a long time and can seriously impact your studies, not to mention how much you enjoy your study abroad experience.Participating in a study abroad program while having culture shock can cause your grades to suffer, make it difficult to make new friends, and leave you with negative feelings towards certain countries or cultures, none of which is good. May Make It Difficult to Graduate on Time Even if you are taking a full course load in a foreign country, not all your credits may transfer to your regular school, or they may not meet the specific requirements you need in order to graduate high school.This may cause you to have to take summer school classes or graduate a semester or year later than the rest of your class. This is typically only a problem for students who do longer programs (semester or year-long) during the school year that aren’t organized through their high school. High Cost Many high school study abroad programs are quite expensive.The specific cost will vary based on the organization running the program, where the program takes place, and how long it lasts, but nearly all cost at least a few thousand dollars, and many semester and year-long programs cost $10,000 or more. Paperwork and Red Tape For many of these programs, you will have to fill out a significant amount of paperwork.Some shorter programs and those organized through your high school may require less paperwork, but in general applying to the program and applying for a visa will take a significant amount of time. If you want to attend a longer program, you will likely have to apply for a student visa for the country you will be living in. It varies by country, but, in general, if you will be studying for a semester or a year, you will have to get a student visa. Obtaining a student visa takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. You will often have to send papers to the country’s embassy or consulate in the United States, and you may have to make an in-person visit as well.Filling out the required paperwork and waiting for different government agencies to respond will also take time, so, in general, you will need to start preparing at least a few months before you wish to begin a study abroad program. Limited Benefits Unfortunately, some high school study abroad programs are better than others. While all claim to offer great classes and cultural experiences, some are little more than extended vacations or opportunities to post exotic pictures on Instagram. In these programs, you may not learn much or meet anyone besides other American teenagers, and this can be extremely frustrating, to say the least, if you spent a lot of time and money on a program you thought was going to provide you with new skills and knowledge. In order to minimize the impact of this happening, research a program carefully before you enroll in it. Read as many reviews from past participants as you can, and don't be afraid to contact the organization to ask for more information on how students spend their time and what activities they participate in. Read on to learn more about what else you should consider in order to choose the best study abroad program for you. Considerations to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Program There are clearly benefits and drawbacks to participating in a high school study abroad program. Carefully considering different programs before you choose one can help maximize the benefits and your enjoyment of the experience. Below are several aspects you should keep in mind when considering programs. Where to Go Choosing the country where you’d like to study abroad is one of the first and most important decisions you’ll make when looking at study abroad programs.You will often choose where to study based on what skills you’d like to acquire. For example, if your primary motivation for studying abroad is to improve your Spanish skills, then you should study in a Spanish-speaking country.You can also choose to study in a specific country that you find interesting, want to learn more about, or that relates to your own background or heritage. You should also think about potential culture shock. While all countries have unique qualities, generally Western European nations (and Australia) are the most similar to the United States and will be easier to adapt to. If you choose a program in Asia, Central America, or Africa, your life will likely be much different than it is back home. For example, you may have to deal with cockroaches in your bedroom, foods you can't identify, and crowded buses where people pile on top of each other. If you can adapt, you can have great experiences in these countries, but not everyone wants to deal with those changes on top of their schoolwork, and there's no shame in admitting that. Where in the world do you want to study abroad? When to Go Another decision you must make is whether to study abroad during the academic year or the summer. Some shorter programs can also be done during school holidays like winter or spring break. Studying Abroad in Summer (or During Another Vacation) Studying abroad in the summer removes issues with graduating on time, but you may not have as authentic an experience because you will often be in special classes with other internationalstudents and may not meet as many locals. Studying AbroadDuring the School Year Studying abroad during the school year will often give you more options for classes because school will be in session, but it may make it harder for you to graduate on time. Many programs are open to high school students in any year, but some grades are better to study abroad in than others.It’s not recommended that you study abroad your freshman year because you should have some high school experience under your belt to help you be more prepared for foreign classes and ways of learning. Also, you most likely don’t want to study abroad your senior year because this may make applying to colleges difficult, and this is also often the last year you have to be in school with many of your current friends.Sophomore and junior years are often the best time to study abroad. How Long to Go For High school study abroad programs can range from one week to an entire year in length.When considering how long a program you should participate in ask yourself the following questions: How long can you be away from your regular school? How long do you want to be away from your family, friends, and home country? How expensive of a program can you afford? (Longer programs typically cost more.) How long do you need to stay in order to gain the skills you want? Spending 3 weeks in Spain may help you improve your Spanish skills, but if your goal is to become fluent, you will likely need to spend more time there. How deeply immersed do you want to become in the local culture? Spending several months in a foreign country will help you get a much better understanding of its culture and people than a program that is only a few weeks long. Program Focus Certain study abroad programs have specific focuses, such as language acquisition, cultural immersion, or focus on a specific school subject.Summer programs often have a wider variety of focuses, including community service, sports, or traveling.If you have a specific topic you’d like to study, look for programs that offer it. Living Conditions Some programs offer dorm housing where participants live with other students. This option can make it easier to make friends, but because many of your roommates may also be foreigners, it can be harder to meet locals and learn about the area’s culture. Other programs offer home stay arrangements, where participants live with a local family. This is a great way to improve your language skills and see how local people live, but it can also be difficult for people who want to be around others their own age and from their own country. Cost As mentioned above, the cost for study abroad programs can vary widely depending on how long the program is, where it takes place, and who organizes it. Search multiple program websites to get an idea of the costs of different programs. High school study abroad programs can have a high price tag. Should You Study Abroad in High School? So, should you participate in a high school study abroad program? There's no one right answer for everyone, so ask yourself the following questions to help make your decision. Why Do You Want to Participate in a High School Study Abroad Program? The first question you should ask yourself is why you want to participate in a study abroad program. Do you want to become bilingual? Experience a new culture? Have an experience to help your college applications stand out?Then ask yourself if the benefits of this program will outweigh the costs: monetary, time, and effort. Do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks? For example, is becoming fluent in Spanish important enough to you to spend thousands of dollars and possibly delay your high school graduation?There is no wrong answer to these questions, so think carefully about them and be honest with your answers. How Will This Affect Your Class Schedule? Before you agree to participate in any high school study abroad program that lasts a semester or academic year, you should speak with your guidance counselor and possibly some of your teachers to learn how this will affect your high school graduation requirements. Depending on how many classes transfer and what particular classes your high school requires to graduate, you may have to take summer classes or graduate later.Even if you are able to graduate on time, be aware that you may not be able to take all the advanced classes you’d like to in foreign countries, such as AP classes. This may have an impact on your college applications if you are applying to particularly competitive colleges, although many are understanding of study abroad programs and know they have significant benefits. Can You Afford It? High school study abroad programs are usually a significant financial undertaking, and it can be difficult to justify spending that much money, particularly with the rising cost of attending college.Many people may not be able to afford a program that costs $10,000 or more.If money is a concern, consider government-sponsored programs, programs shorter in length, or look into study abroad scholarships for high school students. Are You Prepared to Live in Another Country? Think carefully about this before you agree to a program.Imagine what it would be like to be living in a foreign country with different rules and cultural standards. Depending on your program, also consider what it would be like to live in a country where the native language is not English. From my own experiences, I can say that my ten-day exchange in France was much more challenging than my month-long program in England, due to the language barrier. Small problems like not knowing which bus to take, where the closest ATM is, or how much something costs can become much more frustrating when it is difficult to communicate. Ways to reduce culture shock while studying abroad include joining programs that are shorter, take place in countries where English is spoken, andliving and studying with other students from the US. The Bottom Line on Studying Abroad in High School Studying abroad while in high school can be a great way to gain skills, meet new people, and be exposed to new cultures. However, these programs can also have drawbacks, such as the possibility of culture shock, a high price tag, and the possibility of delaying your high school graduation. It’s important to research programs, speak to your guidance counselor about transferring credits, and think seriously about how well you’d be able to cope with living abroad for an extended period of time before joining a program. If you are unable to do in a high school study abroad program, there is always the option to participate in one during college instead. What's Next? Wondering what is the best foreign language to study? Check out our guide and learn which foreign language you should take. Are you considering doing volunteer work in a foreign country as well? Check out our guide on volunteer abroad programs and learn whether or not you should participate in one. Wondering whichclasses you should take in high school? We have a guide that explains which classes you should take for every major high school subject. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Construction Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Construction - Case Study Example It has emerged that economic instruments such as collection and disposal charges are very efficient in internalizing the externalities of the disposal of waste. This will reduce the amount of waste going to landfill through the recycling process and minimization of waste. According to Coopers and Lybrand (1993), tax could be justified since it reflects the wider scope of the environmental cost of the landfill and promotes recycling and minimization of waste. An increase of the rate of taxation by 50% would have some major impacts in this sector. An increase in taxation is likely to arise from tighter planning controls, reduction of the quantity of waste that requires being disposed and the reduction in competition in this sector after the smaller operators have been forced out (Environmental Resources Ltd, 2002). The increase in cost is likely to stabilize the current rate of  £20- £25/t making it more competitive in comparison to the landfill. The quantity of waste that goes to landfill is likely to be affected significantly but in the end, it will shift towards incineration. The increase in the taxation rate will help to achieve the polluters’ pays principle and also ensure proper pricing of the landfill waste. This will help to increase the proportion of waste management. Another important impact of the increase in the taxation rates is the consequential reduction in the administrative costs hence raising the standards of waste management. There is also likely to be a reduction on the demand for the local materials hence reducing the mining activities carried out which usually have a very negative impact on the environment (HM Customs and Excise, 2005). The construction firms would be forced to move the inert materials and rubble between projects and this is likely to force the smaller practitioners to either comply or quit. However an increase in the taxation rate will

Ethical Issues in Packaging practices Research Paper

Ethical Issues in Packaging practices - Research Paper Example The main aim of any business is to maximize their profit margin and for this they adopt any strategy available. The main unethical steps taken by entrepreneurs’ to mislead the customer to achieve their motive are taken under view. The marketing efforts made the consumers aware about what a certain company or organization can offer them. When talking about marketing, the first concept that is imparted is that of the 4 Ps. These Ps all signify a separate area; product, price, placement, promotion. However, the more modern teachers of the marketing concept talk about a 5th P, which is the packaging. The fact that packaging has been included in the P goes on to show how important a part of the marketing effort really is (Ayub, 2013). Probably no words are required to explain what packaging is but simply put into words, it is the material use to pack the final product. When talking about packaging in marketing context, it refers not only to the material that is used for packaging but also how that packaging appears to consumers. The outlook of the final product in most cases is dependent on the packaging rather than the product itself. In that aspect, packaging is very important because there are a large proportion of the consumers that buy a product based on how it looks. Ethics are the moral principles or bases that guide the decision making for anything. Before the buyer uses the product what makes him purchase is the packaging of the product which motivates him to pay for it leaving the other same purpose serving products. The article discusses the various ethical issues found in packaging practices by business practitioners. Environmental Paradigm It is a clear fact that not all business fully comply with the societal and environmental ethics that exist in a society. These issues could be local or international and affect the businesses as well as their workplaces. Since there are no specific guidelines for business ethics, it becomes difficult for companies to actually satisfy the customers’ and the workers’ needs related to ethical issues. Every person, every organization or every entity has different ethical standards and sometimes they are so vague that it becomes difficult to meet and understand them. In order to meet these stan dards, organizations often suffer from losses or minimize their profits so as to create a balance between the two factors that are business ethics and business profits (Bone & Corey, 2000). Compromising on profits in the short run has never proved detrimental for any business; it always provides the company with doubled revenues in the long run. Some of the major issues include bribery, gender discrimination, child labour, not paying enough to workers and product packaging etc. The issue that will be focused in this essay is of product packaging. A number of companies intentionally remove the details of the side effects of their product packages while there are some companies that run certain environment specific tests such as animal testing etc. for example; The Body Shop sells only those products that are not animal tested. According to them they sell only vegetarian friendly i.e. natural products. This has created a competitive advantage for the company and ethically sensitive pe ople prefer it over other cosmetic brands. However, a number of other companies are indulging in such practices in order to maintain their customer base (Laczniak, 1983). Packaging Canvas According to a research analyst, the packaging issues of different products are different for the three important groups that are related to the product. First being the packaging professional,

Having Our Say Essay Example for Free

Having Our Say Essay Sarah and Bessie Delany were extraordinary women. They were very intelligent, kind, yet feisty women. Sarah and Bessie Delany were very close sisters and lived to be one hundred and four and one hundred and nine years of age. The Delany sisters were able to live long because of the way they lived their life. Over all these two women lived a good life and had two loving, caring, and wise parents to help who they have become in our American history, but life for The Delany sisters was not always easy they faced many hardships to have the respect they do today. In the book Having Our Say The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years The Delany sisters faced many challenges because they were sheltered, educated and black African American females. The Delany sisters grew up at Saint Augustine’s school in Raleigh, NC. The Delany family was a very religious family and tried to follow all the rules to living a good sinful life (56, 57). Being in their early twenties the Delany sisters world only consist of Saint Aug’s college and downtown Raleigh. They only have visited two places Yak, Virginia and Fernandina, Florida (115). Henry Delany; the sisters’ father was the first elected African American bishop of the Episcopal churches (3). Therefore the Delany children were look highly upon and the Delany sisters were very sheltered growing up. Bessie talked about how sheltered and clueless she and Sadie were when she made the statement, Our childhood years were so protected, we didn’t have but the vaguest notion of what sex. We had a neighbor who said to us once, â€Å"You girls are so green, it’s no wonder those cows don’t mistake you for grass and gobble you up. † (84). The Delany sisters didn’t live like normal kids. They help raise their seven younger brother and sisters, and wasn’t aloud to go anywhere off Saint Aug’s campus without supervision. Living in the city of Raleigh when the Delany sisters became young women in their mid twenties they eventually moved to New York after visiting a few time. The two sisters were afraid and didn’t know how to talk to men without feeling uncomfortable they were very educated and disciplined, but when it came to having streets smarts they lack a lot of that (111). Sadie had one guy friend name frank who took liking to her and her father was not very fond of him and forbidden Sadie from seeing him again. Bessie said â€Å"I suppose Lemuel and Papa thought they were doing the right thing by Sadie, forbidding her to see frank anymore, but I don’t think was right. She was a grown woman. She should have had a say† (121). The Delany sisters turned out fine, but if they weren’t so sheltered life could have gone a little smoother for them. In the early 1900’s it was very rare for any African Americans to have any education beyond high school. All the Delany children went to college and got the education. Sadie Delany graduated from Saint Aug in 1910 and in the same year got her first teaching job working for Wake County public schools in North Carolina (112,113). A few years later Bessie graduated from Saint Aug’s and got a job just like her sister in Boardman, NC. In 1913 Bessie went to Brunswick, GA to teach at an Episcopal school for African American children (130). In 1915 the Delany sisters took their first trip to New York City and fell in love with the big city (139). The Delany sisters moved there in to further there education. Sadie faced problems when she started school in New York. Sadie said I had a difficult time at first, because I really had to scramble in courses like chemistry. That was a problem for a lot of colored students. Often, our early training was not as good as the white students’ because colored schools had no money. (149) Many whites labeled blacks as â€Å"dumb†. Sadie didn’t get a grade that she deserved in her chemistry class, and the teacher was discriminating against her. The Delany sisters had to prove that they were capable of learning and succeeding just as much as white people were, and it was already hard for them because they were black, but being a black female made it almost impossible to be taken seriously. Being a black person in America was hard living and worse being black and living in the south than anywhere else especially after the Jim Crow laws were passed. The Delany sisters took trips often to the drug store Bessie said â€Å"I was not a crying child, except when it came to being treated badly because of my race, like when they wouldn’t serve us at the drug store counter† (105). Being a black female back in that time they received worse disrespects than just being a black male. But if there were blacks that were lighter skinned they were treated somewhat better because they were close to looking white. Bessie said â€Å"To be lighter-skinned was more desirable If you were very dark skinned you were looked down upon. We saw in our own family that people treated the lighter-skinned children better†. (106) Throughout the Delany sisters life they have had to go through the constant disrespect of race and discrimination. Having gone what the Delany sister went through they became wonderful, courageous, educated women. All the struggle they went through made them stronger and how they lived their life helped them live for as long as they did to tell their life obstacles and achievements.

Jane Eyre :: essays papers

Jane Eyre When Jane Eyre is introduced to Reverend St. John Rivers, she has already had a lifetime of experiences, but she still does not have a good sense of self. By the time that Jane leaves St. John, she is a newly self-assured woman who knows what she wants in life, and is determined to achieve her goals. When St. John is first introduced in the book, he finds Jane completely destitute with nowhere to go and no one to rely on for help. Despite her refusal to reveal her true identity, St. John takes Jane in to live with him and his two sisters, Diana and Mary. Once she has been nursed to health, St. John gives Jane a job as a school teacher at a girls school as well as a small cottage in which to live (339). At this point in the novel, word reaches the Rivers family of their Uncle's death. Unfortunately, another relative was favored for the large inheritance over them. While living in Moore House, Jane begins to feel like she is part of the Rivers family. She regards their home as her home (360), and its inhabitants as her brothers and sisters. Soon, Jane is informed that St. John has been told to whom their Uncle's estate was left- one Jane Eyre. It seems that St. John was christened St. John Eyre Rivers (366). St. John, Diana, and Mary are actually Jane's cousins. This gives Jane the family that she has always wanted, she finally has people to love her. One day, St. John announces to Jane that he will be going to East India to be a missionary, and that he wants Jane to go with him as his wife (383). Jane is reluctant to appease him, and he tries to convince her to come by telling her that it is God's Will that she do this (391). Many times Jane has done things that she did not want because it was God's Will. She was sent out of her Aunts house, suffered punishments at Lowood Institution, and did not marry Mr. Rochester, all for God's Will. But this time she realized that this was not God's Will. The next day while trying to reconcile with St. John, Jane hears a voice on the wind calling her name much like the story of Damascus in the bible that she had studied for so long.

‘Resurrection Is More Likely to Be True Than Reincarnation.’ Discuss

Resurrection is more likely to be true than reincarnation. ’ Discuss In discussing this statement, we must first define the words resurrection and reincarnation to decipher what they mean. Resurrection is the act of rising from the dead or returning to life and reincarnation is the rebirth of a soul in a new body. There are many problems surrounding the two due to mainly religious beliefs. I will be focussing mainly of the religion of Hinduism as they believe in reincarnation, and Christianity which believes in resurrection.Reincarnation is a common belief in the eastern part of the world, with Buddhism as well as Hinduism, supporting the idea of rebirth. In Hinduism each person has an essential self which is called the Atman, and is eternal and seeks unity with God. At physical death, the Atman leaves the body and enters another at birth. The physical body is gone but the Atman remains the same. The status of the body that the Atman re-enters is depended on whether in the pre vious life the person was morally good or bad, if good it will be in a higher status body, and if bad will be in a lower status body.This cycle of rebirth, birth and death is called Karma which Buddhism also follows, except they do not believe in a soul, but instead the five skandhas which are woven together and make a person attract karma. These two religions are heavily followed in the eastern part of the world and so therefore it may be argued that because it is an accepted belief it is therefore normal to believe in such an idea, however in the western part of the world where religions such as Christianity are followed it is not as accepted.Some would also question the fairness of suffering in this life for something in a past life which they cannot remember and that punishment doesn’t have a value unless you understand what it is for; it needs to be associated with something. However, Hindus would argue that karma is not seen as a punishment; it is just bearing out the k armic fruits and is a part of the Natural Law, and if you can’t remember a past life, that is a sign of wisdom. There have been cases where reincarnation has been seen to be identified, for example by an American professor of psychiatry, Ian Stevenson.He wrote a book, ‘Twenty cases suggestive of reincarnation’, where he looked at cases where people had seen to be reincarnated from someone else in the past from India, Ceylon and Brazil. He used examples of children to make his judgement more reliable as they would not be influenced by society or money in such a way that adults might. In one case there was a boy, Imad, who talked about a family whom he used to live with, and the family had no connection to this other family at all.He gave the name of where he lived and the family name, events and people that he knew there, and could even direct them to the area of where he used to live. Stevenson later found out that a man, Ibrahim, had died there and which matched up to all the events that the man had seen. The reincarnation was not immediate but was nine years later. This extraordinary case gives strong belief that reincarnation is true. However philosopher John Locke studied Steveson’s book and suggests that the dead person has left behinf some psycic traces or husks and therefore has a ‘memory’ of the previous life, and is therefore not reincarnated.Reincarnation completely goes against the teachings of many other religions, such as Christianity, Islam and Judaism as resurrection is the key to their religion. Without resurrection there would be no point to the religion. For Christianity, Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven, so too will we come to resurrection at the end of time, when Jesus returns to the Earth. When the dead will rise from their graves and will be called up to God to be judged and the bad will then â€Å"go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life†.Fundamentali st Christians believe exactly what the Bible says and therefore will believe that we will rise again in physical forms as Jesus did. If this is the case, it implies that after death there is some sort of space and that they take up room, so where would this be? Would it have a climate or shelter? And famously Peter Cole said if we are all physical bodies then you ‘will have to queue to see Jesus’. Hick is a more modern philosopher, who came up with the idea of the Replica Theory. Despite not believing it himself, he described it as a thought process that tackles the idea of resurrection.If John Smith disappears from one place and appears in another with exactly the same DNA, personality and physical matter, we must conclude that this is the same man, John Smith. then let’s say if this happened, but instead of another earthly location, John Smith appeared in a resurrection world. It is the same man again, but in another world entirely. An issue with Hicks theory i s that, how would we be recreated in the other place, and surely a replica of someone would have exactly the same bodily problems as the original person. If someone was ying for example, their replica would also be dying as it is exactly the same. But Hick also brings up the idea that we have a new resurrection body created by God that is without earthly defects. A more viable answer to resurrection that some Christians believe is that the soul is resurrected and that spiritual body will live on. The idea that the resurrected body will be forever in eternal life links in with Kant’s idea of the Summum Bonum which is the highest good, in heaven, and suggests that because there is terror in the world, once resurrected with God, He will make everything alright.In conclusion, reincarnation seems to be more likely to be true than resurrection due to the fact that resurrection brings out more questions than answers to it, rather than a simple concept of karma. Studies have been exa mined with reincarnation, and not in resurrection which gives more evidence for the theory of reincarnation to be true. Reincarnation may seem prominent in many peoples’ lives without knowing it as deja vu may be a sign of this, which I can relate to myself.

Life Style Inventory Essay

As I look at my results from the Life Style Inventory my primary thinking style that I scored the highest in was the affiliative style at 83%. As I looked deeper at this style it fit me to a tee. I have always been warm and sincere because I always try to see the best in other people. My interpersonal relations with peers and subordinates alike have allowed me to be trusted and liked by others. This has helped me to be both diplomatic and tactful in my decisions as a manager. My genuine concern for people and ability to accept change easily has placed me in a leadership position many times just because I am able to listen and feel that people are more important than things. Next we will be looking at my backup personal thinking style and I had a two way tie between Self- Actualization and Humanistic- Encouraging at 75%. In the Humanistic-Encouragement thinking style I love to teach and enjoy sharing knowledge with others. I am very supportive of others and encourage others to strive for excellence and to think for themselves. As a good listener I am supportive of others and always willing to take time with people. Now with Self-Actualization I am a creative thinker and can communicate easily and very aware of my own feelings. I tend to be optimistic and realistic with my judgments and I have a high level of personal integrity. As I look at these three thinking styles I completely agree with them as my strengths. I have always been the equalizer and the manager called upon to best deal with conflict. I value my employees, focus upon perceptions, and know their needs. Honor and Integrity direct my morale fiber and I hold respect as being the most important element that people need in their lives. These styles are all important for training and developing a strong working team and have made me valued as a good leader and well thought of by my peers. When I at look at any of these thinking styles that may be limiting me I would have to turn towards Approval. I feel that I can be overly trusting too fast and too agreeable with others opinions. Whether you are overly seeking approval or accepting others values too much this style can work against you and be called being too generous to a fault. I feel that I would like to have better control upon being overly sympathetic with people. I have the ability to give people too many chances to improve or correct their behavior when in all actuality it would have been better to have cut our losses after the first counseling session failed. Giving an employee a fair chance is fine but when I go too far it can appear like favoritism or special treatment. If the employees know that you are overly sympathetic they will also play to this weakness to get out of the hot seat. The team likes you and shows approval on the surface but really they do not respect you and view you as a push over. I sometimes fight this behavior because there is a fine line between the perception of not caring and being not sympathetic enough and being overly sympathetic to a fault. I always know that you cannot please everyone as a good leader and some may even oppose you, but if upper management sees you as being too soft and overly sympathetic then you are not taking care of the business. Impact on Management Style: Planning When I think of my primary and back up styles of thinking I can see the affiliative style having me motivate my team through using praise and friendliness. This can help me in the planning phase by getting valuable input from my team through building trust and meaningful relationships that are reciprocated. This helps us to feel like a team and make informed decisions from data collected by our team and helps us to build a sound plan of action. Through self-actualization I would use my sound judgment and optimistic and realistic nature to set solid goals. When making company plans my humanistic-encouragement style would have me utilize my knowledge of the company’s needs and the teams needs to make good plans. Being a good listener also makes planning a lot easier. Organizing With my ability to develop and teach others and listening to my team while easily adapting to change I am able to better organize my team by setting SMART goals and using my communication skills to keep my team well informed. By thinking outside of the box and using my creative and original thinking skills I will be able to keep all of my team on the same page with our eye on the target of success. Leading My primary and backup styles give me an excellent leadership skillset in that I listen and set own goals, but I also understand how people feel and make sound judgments. My genuine concern for others and communication skills not only give me great leadership skills but my ability to use my intuition to read people allows for proactive decisions to be made. Perhaps it is my ability to be diplomatic and tactful and see the best in others that allows for me to be respected and well thought of as a leader. Controlling Some people use intimidation and threats to control their team but giving them respect and a sense of ownership of their job allows my coaching and development style to allow peer pressure to control our team. The ability to set common goals and encourage our team to think for themselves, gives ownership and control through respect, honor, and integrity. Never asking my team to do what I am not willing to do myself and giving them the resources and tools needed to be successful keeps the respect and lines of communication open. Genesis of Personal Style: If I was to critically evaluate what has contributed the most to my personal styles it would have to be my family and growing up in the restaurant business. Always being in the public eye and dealing with guests face to face gave me a comfort at an early age of being in front of people and taking the time to listen and enjoy people. I was in the entertainment business and learned how to set goals and run a business by watching the controllable costs and giving quality service so that our guests would return. I developed understanding, humility, confidence, and personal integrity from my family. Growing up in my community and having great friends and families really made a big difference with being sincere, warm, and open. It was sports and Boy Scouts that offered discipline, commitment, and goals to my life. From my relationships built in high school and the Navy to the relationships built in business I continue to learn and strive to improve my styles to compliment my ability to lea d. Conclusion and Reflection: As I look at my Constructive skills I see how my developments of Affiliative, Humanistic-Encouragement, and Self-Actualization styles have all contributed to my ability to be a good leader. My intuitive ability to read behavior and develop teams is second nature to me and my ability to listen and be real to my team has earned me their respect. Now my Passive and Defensive styles show me that dependent and conventional may be an area to watch out for but I felt that approval was the area that concerned me the most. Specifically it may be too easy to become overly sympathetic and this could lead to being overly generous to a fault. Looking at my Aggressive and Defensive Styles I look at oppositional and competitive styles and giving me the ability to question everything and always inspect everything before making a decision, be the best at what we do, and set the benchmark of our industry. I feel that the LSI shows us our strengths and opportunities and while we are always striving to improve our behaviors we must look at our beliefs in why we find our behavior acceptable and seek to make changes here, because in order to improve one’s behavior we must change our beliefs first. I feel that I would like to improve upon being less sympathetic and watch my procrastination by setting clear boundaries a staying to the specific rules. It is important for me not to put things off for tomorrow if I can do it today. I also would like to not get overly involved in team members personal issues that are affecting their work. This exercise helped me to look closely at how other styles can overshadow the positives of other styles and be counterproductive. This has helped me because as I see that several of my styles help me to be a good leader but now I have a better understanding on what other styles can limit my constructive styles ie, if I have a high affiliative and a high power style then I would desire to have close friendships but try to control and dominate these friendships which will result in a negative relationship. Overall this has been a great tool for my future in management and beter understanding my thinking and behavior process.

Week 4 Discussion Example

Week 4 Discussion Example Week 4 Discussion – Coursework Example Rewarding Ethical Behaviors in a CPA Firm al Affiliation: Rewarding Ethical Behaviors in a CPA Firm Rewarding and ethical behaviors work hand in hand and it is, therefore, necessary for every firm to reward its ethical employees (Johnson, 2007). The  first step in coming up with a reward program is letting the employees understand all the rules of the CPA firm. The communication policy should be effective so that all the employees understand the rules. The following crucial ethical behaviors should be prioritized -: Maintenance of confidentiality Truthfulness Avoidance of conflicts (Johnson, 2007)These key ethical behaviors should be summed up with the company’s ethical requirements so that employees can know precisely  what is expected of them. Most ethical behaviors are observable and can be tracked. The firm should select a team that will be in charge of monitoring ethical behaviors among the employees. The team should not be known by the employees. The employees shoul d be aware of the reward program, and its standards should be high. The ethics reward program should be linked up with other company values such as teamwork and communication. This will ensure that the ethical reward program does not distract the normal operations of the CPA firm. The reward program should not be necessarily monetary. Linking it with aspects such as promotions is highly recommendable and can yield good results. For the reward program to be effective, non-ethical behaviors should be punishable (Johnson, 2007). Punishing the unethical employees will help reduce cases of unethical behavior and will in turn promote ethical behaviors. The reward program should be continuous so that a culture of good ethical behaviors is eventually developed (Johnson, 2007).In conclusion, a reward program should begin with making the rules and ethical expectations of the firm known to the employees. High ethical standards and good rewards should be set and communicated to the employees. A monitoring team should be developed. Unethical behaviors should be punished. The reward program should appreciate other aspects of the organization. It should be continuous so that a culture of ethical behaviors is eventually developed.ReferencesJohnson, C. E. (2007).  Ethics in the workplace: Tools and tactics for organizational transformation. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE Publications.

The Role of Guest Workers in the American Economy

The Role of Guest Workers in the American Economy The United States has more than a half-century’s experience with dealing with guest-worker programs. The first dates back to the World War II-era Bracero Program that allowed Mexican laborers to come to the U.S. to work on the nation’s farms and railroads.   Simply put, a guest-worker program allows a foreign worker to enter the country for a specified period of time to fill a specific job. Industries with surges in labor needs, such as agriculture and tourism, often hire guest workers to fill seasonal positions. The Basics   A guest worker must return to his homeland after  the term of his temporary commitment has expired.  Technically, thousands of  U.S. non-immigrant visa holders  are guest workers. The government gave out  55,384 H-2A visas  to temporary agriculture workers in 2011, which helped U.S. farmers deal with seasonal demands that year. Another 129,000 H-1B visas went out to workers in â€Å"specialty occupations† such as engineering, math, architecture, medicine and health. The government also gives out a maximum 66,000 H2B visas to foreign workers in seasonal, non-agricultural jobs. The Bracero Program Controversy   Perhaps the most controversial U.S. guest-worker initiative was the Bracero Program that ran from 1942 through 1964. Drawing its name from the Spanish word for â€Å"strong arm,† the Bracero Program brought millions of Mexican workers into the country to compensate for labor shortages in the U.S. during World War II. The program was poorly run and poorly regulated. Workers were often exploited and forced to endure shameful conditions. Many simply abandoned the program, migrating to the cities to become part of the first wave of post-war illegal immigration. The abuses of Braceros provided inspiration for a number of folk artists and protest singers during the period, including Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs. Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez started his historic movement for reform  in response to the abuses suffered by the Braceros. Guest-Worker Plans in Comprehensive Reform Bills Critics of guest-worker programs argue that it’s virtually impossible to run them without widespread worker abuses. They contend that the programs are inherently given to exploitation and to  creating an under-class of servile workers, tantamount to legalized slavery. In general, guest-worker programs arent meant for  highly skilled workers or for  those with advanced college degrees. But despite past problems, the expanded use of guest workers was  a key aspect of the  comprehensive immigration reform legislation  that Congress considered for much of the last decade. The idea was to give U.S. businesses a steady, reliable stream of temporary labor in exchange for tighter border controls to keep illegal immigrants out. The Republican National  Committee’s 2012 platform called for creating guest-worker programs to satisfy the needs of U.S. businesses. President George W. Bush made the same proposal in 2004. Democrats have been reluctant to  endorse the programs because of the past abuses, but their resistance waned when faced with President Barack  Obama’s strong desire to get a comprehensive reform bill passed in his second term. President Donald Trump has said that he wants to limit foreign workers.   The National Guestworker Alliance   The National Guestworker Alliance (NGA) is a New Orleans-based membership group for guest  workers. Its goal is to organize workers across the country  and to prevent exploitation. According the  NGA,  the group seeks to â€Å"partner with local workers  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  employed and unemployed  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  to strengthen U.S. social movements for racial and economic justice.†

History of Power Generation in Niagara Falls Essay

History of Power Generation in Niagara Falls - Essay Example Today both United States as well as Canada is able to enjoy this huge supply of energy due to the efforts of several individuals and companies who recognized the ability of Niagara Falls to supply energy and continued to make efforts to assist mankind. The ability of Niagara Falls to provide unexpected amount of energy was first realized by Daniel Joncaire who started by developing a small sized canal just over the falls to obtain energy for his sawmill (Kurilovitch, 2003, p.3). Later it was realized that the falls had much more to offer and the area was then bought by Augusts as well as Peter Porter during the era of 1805 from the state level government of the New York. Right after the purchase, the owners increased the size of the canal to obtain huge amounts of power for tannery and gristmill. After a period of nearly 50 years a company named Niagara Falls Hydraulic Power and Mining Company came into existence which was involved in the construction of canals that were later utilized for energy generation. After a period of 28 years the first ever hydro power generating station came into existence under the leadership of Jacob Schoelkorpf. The further expansion of hydro power generation could not take place until the period of 1893 even though efforts were made under the leaderships of Edward Dean Adams and William Thomson during the period of 1890 (Smith, 2011)p.. During the era of 1893 a company named Westinghouse Electric was called upon to design and expand the current power generation and the company ended up developing an AC power system during the period of 1896 and this system was found to be one of the largest electricity generating system of its time. By the period of 1956 several small scaled power plants that were producing Hydro electricity were operational. But during the period of 1956 a disaster made its way hurting the progress and smaller power