8 Higher Thinking Skills through IT-Based Projects Essay

There are four types of IT Based projects which can be used in order to engage students in a higher plane of thinking. The resource-based project relates to finding information to make students go beyond the textbook material. Simple creations make students create their software material to support the need for relevant and effective materials. Guided hypermedia Projects produce self-made multimedia projects help students to create and post webpages on a given topic. These types of IT based projects could help students develop their skills and knowledge not just in learning not just in learning from textbooks but from the computer as well. Using IT-Based projects could help me a lot in my studies. I was able to develop my skills, and I know that I could improve my academic performance by the help of this subject. With the use of IT-Based projects and having enough knowledge with the use of computer, it was shown that students improved in the sense that the students would learn more than what is expected. They don’t just rely on the academic materials, but by using IT-Based Projects. The students would not just develop higher level of thinking but they could also develop their skills that could help them to be productive. Being a future educator, having this higher thinking skill through IT-Based project is advantageous for the reason that it could help the students in learning easily. The teacher wouldn’t find it hard also to engage them in a higher plane of thinking. I can say that I could make use of what I’ve learned from this topic. Because I know me and my future students could benefit from it. Web based project management software is the collection of programs, processes and information that is used to manage various phases of a project and that is accessible on the Internet. Project management entails processes such as scheduling, calculating a critical path, building timelines, creating task lists, managing resources, controlling documents and providing audit trails. Each of these processes can be controlled and sometimes automated through project management software solutions. Web based solutions are coded in a browser supported language such as HTML, ASP or PHP so they can be accessed by clients through a web browser. One main software version is installed and maintained on a server so that more than one client can access this version. One disadvantage to using Web-based software is that the program is usually slower to respond than a typical desktop or client application; Web-based applications are limited by the speed of one’s Internet connection, while client applications operate as quickly as the client’s processor speed. (If you can think of a better way to phrase this, by all means go ahead.) In addition, most information in Web-based applications is not accessible when a user is offline.

Cultural Considerations

Abstract In this paper, we will discuss the cultural differences faced within the criminal justice system. The differences include cultural beliefs, practices, race, gender, and etc. The criminal justice system in the United States does not have an exact solution on how to proceed and embed our country with the cultures beliefs and practices performed by now citizens of the United States. Within this paper, the cultural concerns will be addressed along with possible solutions on how to involve other cultural practices within our own western society.Lastly, Affirmative Action, the Employment Opportunity Act , and other nondiscrimination practices will be examined on how they have impacted the minority population along with the criminal justice system. Cultures & Criminal Law There are many cultures that reside within the United States. Within these cultures come different religious practices and cultural beliefs about their lives, in which some people may disagree about. So, if we do disagree about their beliefs, does it give us the right in the United States to imply we cannot perform those practices here because it’s against our laws?Actions that are illegal here may not be illegal in the country from where the individual is from, are to step aside and allow them to practice the belief anyways? The answer to both questions is â€Å"No†. We must not ignore both situations; this will only cause conflict and heartache for those involved. Criminal law with its emphasis on formal values such as legality and legal certainty faces problems when encountering social issues and social questions that relate to cultural conflicts and different perceptions of substantial principles of justice and morality (Nuotio, 2008).Due to the flexibility of criminal law, cultural issues may be taken into the account in various ways, should this turn out to be necessary. Criminal law is also a cultural phenomenon itself, representing the values of the community. Western c riminal justice is surely individualistic in many ways, as it aims at allocating blame and responsibility to individuals for their wrongful actions. At the same time, it is the part of law through which the political community largely defines itself be deciding about issues of right and wrong.In a modern context, cultural diversity causes extra pressure on political and legal systems, but it does actually render modern law even more important than before, and the substantial disagreements cannot be handled otherwise. One problem that we also must consider is that, even taking cultural context into account in criminal law might itself become a denunciatory practice, a denial of recognition. This view indicates that culture is like nature in that it influences and even determines the actions of the individual, thus limiting individual responsibility on factual grounds.Culture would then be regarded as a kind of force that actually diminishes responsibility for one’s actions in declaring it traditional and customary instead of highlighting its individuality. It is therefore, crucially important to think carefully about how and why culture matters. It might be that both culture and law have the potential to work towards non-recognition or misrecognition. Culture itself is not innocent in this respect. Cultural conflicts often have to do with the fact that different meanings are associated with actions and events by their various participants.The key question is then whether we must guarantee that the legal imputations always respect such cultural sensitivities. Are we generally entitled to have our own personal world-view respected by the courts when they decide cases in which we are involved? Would other solutions mean that some aspects that are constitutive of our identity will be publicly rejected? The conflict may often between the two expressions: that of the action itself, and that of its legal interpretation. Criminal law aims at replacing the meanin g and evaluation of the act given by the actor himself or herself, or the community, by a legal assessment of it.This might turn into a conflict of interpretation. Criminal law is a sort of institutionalized denial, taking standpoints and presenting them over the heads of the individuals in question as it communicates and allocates blame. For example, (Nuotio, 2008), suggests we could, more, generally, expect to see clashes over rights at every level (freedom rights, political rights, welfare rights), and we could also presume that at least some cultural conflicts will arise in the context in which defenders of a tradition are enforcing a traditional morality that clashes with the rights of the  individual.There are incidents of honor offences concerning forced marriages in which the father or brothers have violently forced an unwilling bride to marry or even killed her when she has insisted on marrying someone of her own choice. It is not rather contradictory if a person who hers elf fully enjoys all the rights and protection granted to her in a modern society strives to defend a cultural practice that is not compatible with such rights? We live in an iron cage, prisoners of our legal framework which has developed over many centuries. Against the Law?Actions may be wrong, no persons. The legal imputation should never, however, appear as fully accidental and surprising. Legal imputation requires a sociological back-up. People need to understand what has happened and why the legal system intervened. The criminal law provisions defining various offences are deemed to refer to actions in an understandable way, all of which takes place under the fundamental challenge of legitimacy and justice. Criminal laws do not speak directly about identities, as this field of law limits itself to issues concerning actions.But certain actions that are prohibited as criminally wrong might be relevant for the identity of particular persons. Issues related to sexual crimes produc e quite strong images of sexual manners and sexual identities. Such issues are being dealt with in modern criminal justice by a more fine-tuned approach than before. The protected interest is sexual autonomy, not public morals. However, while it seem reasonable to direct efforts toward recognizing cultural identity, respecting diversity to the point of justifying acts that threaten society’s values seems a dubious, even dangerous, policy.It would be difficult for a society to accept that certain acts to be tolerated and even justified solely on the basis of respecting the customs of other cultures; one need only think of the conflicts resulting from the justification of domestic abuse or violence. Communitarian policies of this nature could give rise to social instability, counterproductive to the goal of crime prevention (Carnevali, 2009). Police, EEO, & Affirmative Action Cultural differences in America will affect not only our laws, but the law enforcer whom enforce the la ws to start.It is important for police to understand the cultural experiences and dynamics of the communities they serve, these concerns go further. One of the reasons for focusing on cultural and other differences is that different people can have profoundly different experiences of the same event. There is no single, monolithic truth, but rather widely varying perceptions of reality. These perceptions are influenced by a number of factors; cultural background is one of them (Texas Highway Patrol Association Magazine, 2001).Along with cultural differences comes â€Å"cultural laws† to help protect those from discrimination from jobs, schools, disability, race, gender, and genetics. One of those laws include the Equal Employment Opportunity Act; applicants to and employees of most private employers, state and local governments, educational institutions, employment agencies and labor organizations are protected under federal law from discrimination on the following basis: race , color religion, sex, national origin; disability; age; sex (wages); genetics; and retaliation ( www. eeoc. gov.)Another law to mention that helped many minorities especially African Americans is Affirmative Action. Affirmative Action is a set of procedures designed to eliminate unlawful discrimination between applicants, remedy the results of such prior discrimination, and prevent such discrimination in the future. Applicants may be seeking admission to an education program or looking for professional employment (Legal Information Institute, 2014). Within these laws no person shall be turned down or turn away due to the color of their skin, gender, religious background, and etc.These laws have provided different races to choose our country to reside in maybe because of these laws, but many people have gotten better employment, able to attend colleges, and etc. Conclusion As long as we are the United States, there will be many different cultures and people in this country. This is what makes our country unique because we accept and enjoy people from different countries making the United States their home for the time being or permanent. However, with opening our doors to different people, also brings their culture with them.Now are we suppose to let them do whatever they want because their past country was acceptance of the practice, â€Å"No†, but this also does not mean we will not try to compromise with the practice by suggesting other methods or working out a solution to assist in resolving the issue. Last but not least, our country needs to make laws to embrace other cultural beliefs by exploring other options if not acceptance by our law in this country. Until then, cultural difference, practice, or religious belief will need to be taken into court, where the courts can make decision on what is acceptable by our law.

Variables The Internet Users and Democracy Score Research Paper

Variables The Internet Users and Democracy Score - Research Paper Example This research paper examines that In most of the third world countries, the development process has not been fully conceptualized. Slums are on the extreme end of capital cities and people survive on less than a dollar a day. The rate of internet consumption is still not high and democracy is in its primary stages. Information is only limited to a few number of people and the rest, the low-income earners, are subjected to doctored information that is useless. Opinion leaders are left with the mandate of spreading this information, a role with which they perform with zeal and zest in propagating lies. The rules and regulations that govern internet consumption have been tightened to ensure minimal or no criticism is directed to the Government. Again, it all depends with the Government of the day. From the above theoretical argument, it’s imperative to note that certain factors ought to be put into consideration. These factors include internet connectivity and ignorance from the target group of people. This group of people may not be willing to use the internet like in the third world countries mostly in Africa, the level of ignorance is very high. This theory seeks to establish a footing in the long run on the principal independent variable which forms an analysis the relationship between democracy and the independent variables. The result of this will form a multivariate linear regression model to establish the exact number in terms of variance democratization across nations can be accounted for by the internet.

Identify how fundamental marketing techniques have been used to launch Essay - 1

Identify how fundamental marketing techniques have been used to launch a successful product - Essay Example It provides platforms and solutions for the consumer’s accessibility to time-sensitive information through telephone, email, text messaging, Internet, and all intranet-based applications (Frenzel 2004). Marketing is the practice of management that effectively and beneficially recognizes, foresees and satisfies customer requirements (Chartered Institute of Marketing, n.d.) Marketing concept, according to Kotler and associates (2008), is a customer-centered philosophy that productive sales and adequate investment returns are achievable when customer needs are met. It is focused on customer orientation, business-and-customer relationship and customer satisfaction (Kotler, 5) Marketing is an essential element of every commercial business, apart from the product type, environs, target market, or the service provided. With the arrival of modern technology, particularly the internet, innovative business forms have surfaced necessitating an array of marketing techniques to magnetize and maintain customers. Before 2002, BlackBerry was principally a wireless electronic mail solution, mainly targeted on the upper corporate sector. Partly based and highlighted from the old logo of BlackBerry phones, its original brand positioning was to be "the best wireless email solution for business." (‘Our Work: BlackBerry: Connecting a Breakaway Brand with its Users’ 2010). The increase in technology shifts and the impact of BlackBerry branding on the development of the general mobile communication market and its effect on consumer requirements and behaviours, prompted RIM marketing group to implement a repositioning of the BlackBerry brand: A repositioning that is beyond short-lived fashionable technology and email usefulness (‘Our Work: BlackBerry: Connecting a Breakaway Brand with its Users’ 2010). In 2002, the Research in Motion, together with Landor, a top branding expert, redesigned BlackBerry’s

Children education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Children education - Essay Example What makes it an important skill for children to gain is because it is one of the most significant factors in education. Without reading, there can be no effective education, at least not the formal kind. As children develop their reading skills, school education becomes easier as they are able to read and understand written instructions. What is more, with reading comes a sense of wonder; children are able to read stories and learn of lands and things new to them. This enables them to learn more. The article by Meier, a male first grade elementary school teacher, along with relating his experience as a school teacher, also brings to light his joy in teaching young children to read and write. He relates his joy at being able to teach a child to write his name, as well sharing the experience of reading children’s stories with his students. Whereas Pam Krueger’s article basically gives tips on how to get children reading – she talks about how to encourage children at home as well as how parents can promote their children’s interest in reading by reading to them. Though the articles seem different in tone, however, both of them involve educating children and getting them to read. My personal experience with reading has also been of a similar nature. Through my reading, I have been able to learn a lot about the world around me as well as about various subjects of my interest. It is through my habit of reading that I have been able to improve and enhance my English language skills. English is not my first language, and though it seemed quite daunting at first, with my habit of reading, I soon became quite familiar with the language. It is because of my reading that my English has improved this much. It is clear that reading does a lot in improving one’s language skills. It is through reading that correct grammar and diction can be learned, and it is through reading that vocabulary can be expanded. However, apart from its linguistic related

Operations Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 4

Operations Management - Assignment Example It also recognizes the potential of its competitors and therefore keeps on reviewing its strategies to ensure that its is able to achieve its objectives in a reliable way. It has over time developed polices that promote good farming practices for its producers with an aim of ensuring that they constantly increase their production capability, which would in return impact on the company’s processing ability and eventually the supply to the market. With such an enhanced mechanism, the company no doubt makes a good case study for operation management processes. In order to get an overview focus of this study, it is important to understand what process management is all about and how existing literature looks into it. Some scholars have looked at this process as the manner in which a given procedure is controlled and directed with an aim of transforming inputs into finished goods and services(Melao and Pidd,2000).). It has also been looked into as the process related with creation operation and control of transformation system which absorbs inputs and resources and in the long run produces outputs which are classified as either goods or services and are essential to the customers (Pritchard and Armistead, 1999). From these descriptions, it is deducible that operation process is primarily focused in producing goods or services that customers can enjoy. Lin and Pai (2002) assert that operations management deals with looking it what resources are needed where, how, in what quantity and for what purpose, as well as how these resources will impa ct on the final expected product. From the company overview given above, it is evident that the company has a rather complicated structure that is significantly segmented for easy management. There are several interdependent departments that undertake specific tasks with an aim of reaching the overall company objectives. The process selected for

Personal Statement Adjust(including) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Personal Statement Adjust(including) - Essay Example For instance, when I was in high school, many people were inconsistent in communicating the truth. I was disappointed with this immoral behavior and empathized with the victims who suffered from the lies. Moreover, I am a witness to the problems that the society suffers on failing to master their communication skills. For example, when I was younger, I discovered the negative effects of poor communication. I had several embarrassing conversations with my friends that left us at crossroads. In one such occasions, my friend called me to write an email to all my classmates with a nonspecific subject line such as ‘’meeting.’’ In such a scenario, the recipient, who may have more than one meeting to attend may not understand which meeting this is and may even delete the message, think it is an unsolicited email, and fail to attend the reference meeting. This would lead to a blame game, confusion, loss of objectivity. In addition, last summer I joined an internshi p program with American and Assurance. This assignment required me to adopt formal communication skills that were quite a challenge compared to the informal language we used in school. In this assignment, I leant that the modes and language of communication varies with the audience. In addition, I have also had many formative experiences that manifested the use of varying communication skills that led to breakdowns in communication. Indeed, people may speak too fast, too slowly, or constantly use some complex words that are too cultural or difficult for everyone to understand. Hence, the communication becomes a jargon to the audience thus loosing effectiveness. As such, simplicity is encouraged in communication for purposes of involving the participation of many in a addressing a given issue. Indeed, we have cases where employees and lawyers use complex legal or financial terms that confuse the general audience. More practically, where a tutor or a student uses jargons during a Powe rPoint presentation, the audience loses interest and the presentation lacks sense subjecting it to possible failure. With this knowledge, I can now understand the importance of good communication skills in a presentation. Indeed, I can use such skills to boost teamwork and presentation of effective findings in a workplace setting. Failure to have good communication skills will equally affect my strength leading group discussions, teamwork, or in student organizations. Consequently, during the internship, I realized that I needed to improve my communication skills. Thus, when I studied at Foothill College, I took two classes in psychology to learn more about human behavior and emotions. In fact, at school, my participation and my studies have not only been to make new friends and acquire knowledge but also to improve my communication skills and learn about the significance of human behavior. Notably, while at the college, I became a member of the Hong Kong International Club and an a dministrator for the School Environment Club. These were leadership positions that warranted high integrity and better communication skills. At these positions, I had the mandate to w to give public speeches, inform the stakeholders on various issues, organize the students for a given purpose, and lead from the front. I hence learnt to analyze and understand what club members wanted, how we

Week4 Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Week4 - Case Study Example For instance, TechShepherd is using the platform for Ecosystem engineering with the aim of successfully growing its enterprise customer base. Through this HubSpot has assisted TechShepherd to develop from a one-man consulting corporation to a total of 10 employees and above 1million in proceeds. In addition, Lucid Meetings which is an exceptional performer in the web conferencing field has used numerous methods to support its promotion efforts. However, the methods were not integrated making it hard to assess the usefulness of the company’s marketing goals. Therefore, it embraced the marketing software HubSpot so as to achieve real-time insights into marketing performance and produce more appropriate content to increase trials, engagement, and funded subscriptions. Finally, the United Kingdom Coffee Company despite its efforts to use traditional techniques to develop their fledgling business, the company has embraced HubSpot as a way of trying inbound marketing. Through this, the company has managed to grow its business in the past four years despite a tough recessionary environment. It now hires more than 12 employees and counts Diesel, Abbey Road Studios, and Mulberry among its consumers (HubSpot,

INDIVIDUAL SOLUTION OF AN ALLOCATED SCENARIO-BIG BROTHER BART Essay

INDIVIDUAL SOLUTION OF AN ALLOCATED SCENARIO-BIG BROTHER BART - Essay Example The case brings out the work of Bart and also brings into light the software used by him to keep a tab on the employee systems to ensure that the software is working fine. Bart uses this software to keep track of people who have issues with new software and he uses this log in to simply keep an eye on the working conditions of the software. Bart’s manager requests him to use this software to keep track of two specific employees who are under the suspicion of trading in drugs using the office computers. Bart is faced with an ethical dilemma here and is unsure of whether it is a good idea to keep a tab on an employee’s computer for this reason. In this case the question is to analyse whether it is ethical for Bart to keep a tab on the employee systems or not and to analyse the theories that relate to these. The two chosen theories here are Utilitarianism and Deontology. The following section provides a brief overview of these theories and helps set the base for analysis o f the case. Utilitarianism and Kantian Deontology share one thing in common, i.e. they are both aimed to provide solutions to moral dilemmas. Utilitarianism is more of morality of justice and it focuses more on maximising the utility or ensuring that most numbers of persons are satisfied and happy with the result that is taken up (Tavani, 2004: 234 - 244). This is relatively much better than the Kantian Deontology or any other deontology approach as this takes into consideration the importance of satisfying people and tries to build a foundation with complete justice (Rachels, 1998: 226 - 240). Here in the case of Utilitarianism, the main aim is to ensure that all parties involved are benefiting from the decision made and there is a high level of success for a number of people in the case. This method (utilitarianism) takes everybody to be equal and it looks for a solution which is for the benefit of more number of people (Held, 2006:

Education System Comparison Between Usa and Latvia Essay Example for Free

Education System Comparison Between Usa and Latvia Essay Introduction Everyone knows that in nowadays there are many possibilities and ways to learn, but in Latvia this is very topical theme right now. Many of the high school graduates want to learn abroad. And I do not think that this is good, because like about half of the students or people that go to learn abroad, never comes back to the native country. That is why I have chosen this topical theme. I am going to study educational systems in these countries. I am going to poll some of the 12th grade students about what are they thinking about learning in USA. I want to achieve that kind of position when a student reads my research project and especially the higher education in Latvia part he changes his mind and stays to learn here. My hypothesis for this Research Work is the education systems in Latvia and in the USA are different and this is a reason why people in Latvia choose the USA for studies very often. The Aim of the Research Work is to compare the education systems in the USA and in Latvia and to find out middle school students opinion about studies in Latvia and in the USA. The main objectives of the Research Work are: †¢ To collect the information about educational system in Latvia †¢ To collect the information about educational system in the USA †¢ To make a questionnaire and analyze the results of middle school students opinion about studies in Latvia and in the USA Educational system in USA Education in the United States is provided mainly by government, with control and funding coming from three levels: federal, state, and local. School attendance is mandatory and nearly universal at the primary and secondary levels. At these levels, school curricula, funding, teaching, and other policies are set through locally elected school boards with jurisdiction over school districts. School districts are usually separate from other local jurisdictions, with independent officials and budgets. Educational standards and standardized testing decisions are usually made by state governments. The age for compulsory education vary by state, beginning at the age five to eight and ending at the age of fourteen to eighteen. A growing number of states are now requiring school attendance until the age of 18.[6] 1.1 Preschool There are no mandatory public prekindergarten or crà ¨che programs in the United States. The federal government funds the preschool program for children of low-income families, but most families are on their own with regard to finding a preschool or childcare. In the large cities, there are sometimes upper-class preschools catering to the children of the wealthy.[6] 1.2 Elementary and Secondary Education Schooling is compulsory for all children in the United States, but the age range for which school attendance is required varies from state to state. Most children begin elementary education with kindergarten (usually five to six years old) and finish secondary education with twelfth grade (usually eighteen years old). In some cases, pupils may be promoted beyond the next regular grade. Some states allow students to leave school at the age of 14–17 with parental permission, before finishing high school. Most parents send their children to either a public or private institution. According to government data, one-tenth of students are enrolled in private schools. Approximately 85% of students enter the public schools, largely because they are free (tax burdens by school districts vary from area to area). Most students attend school for around six hours per day, and usually anywhere from 175 to 185 days per year. Most schools have a summer break period for about two and half months from June through August. This break is much longer than in many other nations. Originally, summer vacation, as it is colloquially called, allowed students to participate in the harvest period during the summer. However, this remains largely by tradition.[6] Parents may also choose to educate their own children at home; 1.7% of children are educated in this manner. 1.2.1 Junior high school Junior high school is any school intermediate between elementary school and high school. It usually includes seventh and eighth grade, and sometimes sixth or ninth grade. In some locations, junior high school includes ninth grade only, allowing students to adjust to a high school environment. Middle school is often used instead of junior high school when demographic factors increase the number of younger students. At this time, students are given more independence as choosing their own classes. Usually, starting in ninth grade, grades become part of a student’s official transcript. Future employers or colleges may want to see steady improvement in grades and a good attendance record on the official transcript. Therefore, students are encouraged to take much more responsibility for their education.[6] 1.3 Higher education Post-secondary education in the United States is known as college or university and commonly consists of four years of study at an institution of higher learning. There are 4,352* colleges, universities, and junior colleges in the USA. Students traditionally apply to receive admission into college, with varying difficulties of entrance. Schools differ in their competitiveness and reputation; generally, the most prestigious schools are private, rather than public. Admissions criteria involve the rigor and grades earned in high school courses taken, class ranking, and standardized test. Most colleges also consider more subjective factors such as a commitment to extracurricular activities, a personal essay, and an interview. While numerical factors rarely ever are absolute required values, each college usually has a rough threshold below which admission is unlikely.[2] *- January 2009. data from www.ed.gov Once admitted, students engage in undergraduate study, which consists of satisfying university and class requirements to achieve a bachelors degree in a field of concentration known as a major. The most common method consists of four years of study leading to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), or sometimes another bachelors degree such as Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), Bachelor of Social Work (B.S.W.), Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.,) or Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil.) Five-Year Professional Architecture programs offer the Bachelor of Architecture Degree (B.Arch.) Professional degrees such as law, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry, are offered as graduate study after earning at least three years of undergraduate schooling or after earning a bachelors degree depending on the program. These professional fields do not require a specific undergraduate major, though medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry have set prerequisite courses that must be taken before enrollment.[2] Some students choose to attend a community college for two years prior to further study at another college or university. In most states, community colleges are operated either by a division of the state university or by local special districts subject to guidance from a state agency. Community colleges may award Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree after two years. Those seeking to continue their education may transfer to a four-year college or university. Some community colleges have automatic enrollment agreements with a local four-year college, where the community college provides the first two years of study and the university provides the remaining years of study, sometimes all on one campus. The community college awards the associates degree, and the university awards the bachelors and masters degrees. Graduate study, conducted after obtaining an initial degree and sometimes after several years of professional work, leads to a more advanced degree such as a masters degree, which could be a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or other less common masters degrees such as Master of Education (MEd), and Master of Fine Arts (MFA). After additional years of study and sometimes in conjunction with the completion of a masters degree, students may earn a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or other doctoral degree, such as Doctor of Arts, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Theology, Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, or Doctor of Jurisprudence. Some programs, such as medicine, have formal apprenticeship procedures post-graduation like residency and internship which must be completed after graduation and befor e one is considered to be fully trained. Other professional programs like law and business have no formal apprenticeship requirements after graduation.[3] Entrance into graduate programs usually depends upon a students undergraduate academic performance or professional experience as well as their score on a standardized entrance exam. Many graduate and law schools do not require experience after earning a bachelors degree to enter their programs; however, business school candidates are usually required to gain a few years of professional work experience before applying. Only 8.9 % of students ever receive postgraduate degrees, and most, after obtaining their bachelors degree, proceed directly into the workforce.[7] 1.4 Basic Curricular Structure Generally, at the high school level, students take a broad variety of classes without special emphasis in any particular subject. Curricula vary widely in quality and rigidity. The following subjects are fairly universally required in the United States: †¢ Science (usually two years minimum, normally biology, chemistry and physics) †¢ Mathematics (usually two years minimum, normally including algebra, geometry, algebra II, and/or trigonometry) †¢ English (usually four years minimum, including literature, humanities, etc.) †¢ Social Science (usually three years minimum, including various history, government/economics courses) †¢ Physical education (at least one year) Many states require a health course in which students learn about anatomy, nutrition, first aid, sexuality, and birth control. Anti-drug use programs are also usually part of health courses. In many cases, however, options are provided for students to test out or perform independent study in order to complete this requirement. Foreign language and some form of art education are also a mandatory part of the curriculum in some schools.[6] 1.5 Extracurricular activities A major characteristic of American schools is the high priority given to sports, clubs and activities by the community, the parents, the schools and the students themselves. Extracurricular activities are educational activities not falling within the scope of the regular curriculum but under the supervision of the school. These activities can extend to large amounts of time outside the normal school day; home-schooled students, however, are not normally allowed to participate. Student participation in sports programs, drill teams, bands, and spirit groups can amount to hours of practices and performances. Most states have organizations which develop rules for competition between groups. These organizations are usually forced to implement time limits on hours practiced as a prerequisite for participation. Many schools also have non-varsity sports teams, however these are usually afforded less resources and attention. The idea of having sports teams associated with high schools is relatively unique to the United States in comparison with other countries. Sports programs and their related games, especially football and/or basketball, are major events for American students and for larger schools can be a major source of funds for school districts. High school athletic competitions often generate intense interest in the community. Inner city schools serving poor students are heavily scouted by college and even professional coaches, with national attention given to which colleges outstanding high school students choose to attend. State high school championship tournaments football and basketball attract high levels of public interest. In addition to sports, numerous non-athletic extracurricular activities are available in American schools, both public and private. Activities include musical groups, marching bands, student government, school newspapers, science fairs, debate teams, and clubs focused on an academic area or cultural interests.[5] 1.6 Electives Many high schools offer a wide variety of elective courses, although the availability of such courses depends upon each particular schools financial resources and desired curriculum emphases. Common types of electives include: †¢ Visual arts (drawing, sculpture, painting, photography, film) †¢ Performing arts (drama, band, chorus, orchestra, dance) †¢ Technology education (woodworking, metalworking, automobile repair, robotics) †¢ Computers (word processing, programming, graphic design) †¢ Athletics (cross country, football, baseball, basketball, track and field, swimming, tennis, gymnastics, water polo, soccer, wrestling, cheerleading, volleyball, lacrosse, ice hockey, field hockey, boxing, skiing/snowboarding) †¢ Publishing (journalism/student newspaper, yearbook/annual, literary magazine) †¢ Foreign languages (Spanish, French are common; Chinese, Latin, Greek, German, Italian, Arabic, and Japanese are less common)[5] 1.7 Advanced Courses Many high schools provide Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These are special forms of honours classes where the curriculum is more challenging and lessons more aggressively paced than standard courses. AP or IB courses are usually taken during the 11th or 12th grade of high school.[6] 1.8 Home Schooling There was 1,3 million children that were home schooled in 2008, up 74% from 1999 when the US Department of Education first started keeping statistics. This was 2.9% of all children. Parents select moral or religious reasons for home schooling their children.[1] 1.9 School grades As you can see in the table (Table N.1), in the U.S. the first year of compulsory schooling begins with children at the age of five or six. Children are then placed in year groups known as grades, beginning with first grade and culminating in twelfth grade. Typical ages and grade groupings in public and private schools may be found through the U.S. Department of Education. Many different variations exist across the country.[2] For more foreseen scheme of education in USA see Appendix N.1. 1.10 Grading scale In schools in the United States children are continually assessed throughout the school year by their teachers, and report cards are issued to parents at varying intervals. Generally the scores for individual assignments and tests are recorded for each student in a grade book, along with the maximum number of points for each assignment. At any time, the total number of points for a student when divided by the total number of possible points produces a percent grade which can be translated to a letter grade. Letter grades are often used on report cards at the end of a marking period, although the current grade may be available at other times. Although grading scales usually differ from school to school, the grade scale which seems to be most common is as follows. The grading is based on a scale of 0-100 or a percentile. Note that in some jurisdictions the D grade (or that below 70) is considered a failing grade. In other jurisdictions a D grade is considered passing in certain classes , and failing in others. If you need a concept of grading scale, see Table N.2.[6] Table N.2 Example grading scale in USA |E,N,U or F |D |C |B |A | | |- | |+ |- | |arodpamatskola |vocational basic school |9-year education may be |2 |no | | | |incomplete | | | |arodvidusskola |vocational secondary school|9-year education |3 |no | |arodgimnazija |vocational gymnasium |9-year education |4 |yes | |arodskola |vocational school |general secondary education |1-2 |no | | |(postsecondary) | | | | As it is seen from table (Table N.4), just one type of vocational schools – four year vocational gymnasium concurrently to vocational training provide general secondary education and, consequently, access to higher education.[10] 2.8 Access to Higher Education In principle, access to higher education is general for all holders of general secondary education certificates. However, the institutions of higher education are free to determine which of the elective subjects must have been taken by the applicant at the secondary school in order to become eligible for admission to a chosen program. There are no fixed all-Latvian rules determining the admission system and it may differ between different institutions and even between different faculties of the same institution of higher education. The main forms of admission procedure may be as follows: †¢ 1 to 4 competitive entrance examinations; †¢ a competition of diplomas plus an interview by the Admission board, which may include general questions in subjects important to the chosen specialty; †¢ just a competition of diplomas (usually judging by the marks in subjects important to the chosen program and/or average mark in the secondary school certificate); †¢ knowledge of Latvian language is evaluated in these cases when the applicant has not had Latvian as the language of instruction in secondary school. An admission board consisting of staff members is formed in all higher educational institutions to carry out admission procedures in accordance with conditions announced at least 5 months before.[9] 2.9 Higher Education 2.9.1 Academic higher education (AkadÄ“miskÄ  augstÄ kÄ  izglÄ «tÄ «ba) is understood as a general higher education based upon fundamental and/or applied science. Academic education can be (and in most cases is) divided into two stages. A student has to perform a thesis of a Research Work at the end of each stage. I. First degree An academic degree and a Bachelor diploma (Bakalaura grÄ ds) can be awarded after successive completion of the first stage. Bachelor degree is an intermediate degree and can be treated as a completed higher education only in these cases when duration of program is 4+ years. However, part of the students leave universities having a bachelor`s degree and find their gap in the labor market. II. Second degree Academic master degree (MaÄ £istra grÄ ds) and the appropriate diploma is awarded after the second stage of academic education and should be treated as a complete university-type higher education. Master degree or a degree equivalent to it (e.g. medical studies are of a level of master`s degree but name of master`s degree is not applicable) can be awarded after total duration of 5-7 years of university studies. Master degree (or equivalent) is required for admission to doctoral studies. III. Higher degrees There are two of doctoral degrees in Latvia Degree of Ph.D. (Doktora grÄ ds) Holders of master`s degree are eligible for doctoral studies and the holders of Ph.D. is expected to be achieved in a 3-4 year period of full-time doctoral studies after a public defense of doctoral thesis. After defense of habilitation thesis you are awarded with a degree of habilitated doctor (habilitÄ“ts doktors). Doctoral degrees are awarded by specialized councils: †¢ promotion council (promocijas padome) awarding the degree doktors only †¢ habilitation council (habilitÄ cijas padome) awarding both doctoral degrees. The regulations for awarding of doctoral degrees are set and the promotion and habilitation councils are appointed by Latvian Science Council (Latvijas ZinÄ tnes Padome). 2.9.2 Higher professional education (ProfesionÄ la augstakÄ  izglÄ «tÄ «ba) is a higher education based upon applied science. It provides knowledge and skills for professional activities. Acquirement of the programs of professional studies can take place independently of academic studies, concurrently to or after them. Non-university type higher education institutions offer higher professional education programs leading directly to professional qualifications. To be treated as a completed higher education, the duration of professional studies has to be not less than 4 years. University-type higher education institutions may offer 1-2 year programs leading to professional qualification after achieving bachelor degree (bakalaurs).[8]

Poverty: Individuals And The Wider Community

Poverty: Individuals And The Wider Community This essay will discuss what is meant by the term Poverty, how it affects individuals and the wider community as well explaining why it is important for Social Workers to have a clear understanding of these issues. By looking at the organisations in place in the UK, in areas such as education and health and social care establishments; this essay will demonstrate how the structures of these organisations both help and hinder Social Workers in their role and how it affects the workings of daily practice. The UK has the oldest and biggest National Health Services in the world, so this essay will also go on to compare the provision in this country with that in the USA. As a first world country, the USA has an economy and culture not vastly different from that in the UK, which makes for some interesting comparisons of the care they both provide. Both the UK and the USA spend the same proportion of their annual budget on social services and education and have a similar rate of poverty. Poverty is a common term which many people would define as simply being a lack of financial resources. This is a very constricted view which makes it difficult to determine how many people live in poverty because the definition is vague and subjective. To understand and measure poverty and its impact upon individuals and the community, it is important to define it further. Instead of one main definition for poverty, sociologists have agreed there are two main types; absolute and relative poverty, as described by Giddens (2009). Absolute poverty is used to describe the inability to provide the basic human needs; food, accommodation and clothing, on a budget of around $1 US dollar per day. The idea of absolute poverty is a global one which can be applied regardless of country or culture and applies equally to people of similar ages and abilities. According to a recent study by UNDP (2010), as many as a third of the worlds population live in absolute poverty. Due to the modern welfare state and benefit system in place in the UK today, no one is expected to survive on $1 per day. However, figures provided by The Poverty Site (2010) show that approximately 9% of the population in the UK have an income which equates to only 40% of the national median income. This has risen almost 7% in just over 20 years and suggests that poverty is on the increase in the UK. These statistics would also suggest that people living in the UK are affected by relative poverty as opposed to absolute poverty. Relative poverty compares the income of individuals to the national or local average, and where it falls below 40-60% of that average, the individual is said to be living in relative poverty. There is still some debate about where the percentage rate should fall but many agree it should be 60% of the national median income (Giddens, 2010). This is referred to as the poverty line; those below this line live in relative poverty. Certain groups of people are more likely to find themselves living in poverty, these include; children, women (particularly single mothers), people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and the elderly. Cunningham Cunningham (2009), Giddens, (2010) and Llewellyn, et al (2008) all agree the reason these groups are more likely to suffer from poverty than other groups is a direct result of social exclusion. Social exclusion is a term which grew in popularity in 1997 when New Labour was re-elected into government. Part of the pre-election campaign of New Labour was to tackle the root causes of the issues affecting those who were marginalised by main stream society (The Poverty Site, 2010). People, who for reasons including; age, race, gender and class are often denied access to service and opportunities making it easier to exclude them from society. This was evident when the BBC undertook a survey, and found that when considering job candidates, whose qualifications and experience were almost identical; those with a name traditionally given to people from non-white backgrounds were far less likely to be called to interview, proving that racism is still present in the workplace, (Cunningham Cunningham 2009). To tackle some of the inequalities present in mainstream society, New Labour introduced a number of initiatives and policy changes to improve the standard of life, these included; The introduction of Tax Credits for families and individuals on low incomes, Every Child Matters a 5 point framework to improve the quality of life for all children, Connections an easily accessible advice point on a range of topics for young adults ages 13 19yrs, SureStart aimed at giving babies and young infants the best start in life by providing advice, drop in centres and child care for their parents. People who face social exclusion often live in the same locality; council house estates for example, which tend to have a higher proportion of single parents and high rates of unemployment. These groups of people are frequently given negative labels, which over time can become self-fulfilling. For example, a young child growing up in a single parent family on an council estate as indicated above is more likely to be viewed negatively and given such labels as; trouble, lazy, good for nothing, which over time can have a detrimental effects upon the child who will begin to view themselves as the labels placed upon them (Llewellyn et al, 2008). This negativity can lead to an increase in truancy, which in turn will lead to a poor education and employment prospects, thus setting up a life in poverty (Mail Online, 2007). According to Bebbington and Miles (1989), children from an impoverished background are 700 times more likely to be involved with social services than children from a wealthy background. This statistic alone shows how vital it is for social workers to have a strong understanding of the impact and experiences living in poverty can have. It is argued by Cunningham and Cunningham (2009) that many professionals in the social work field feel overwhelmed by the structural inequalities faced when tackling poverty, this tends to mean that poverty is dealt with on an individual case basis. Changes in policy, both at national and at local level can have an impact on poverty by the way services are implemented and delivered. As social workers are present at both the point of service and within the organisations where policies are made, it puts them in a prime position to affect change. Understanding and recognising the factors that cause and keep poverty part of modern society will allow a social worker to understand how they can interrupt the poverty cycle encouraging positive change. Placing some of the responsibility for poverty on society and within the structural inequalities that exist, can sometimes be viewed as taking responsibility away from the individual and the choices they have made, making them less accountable. A social worker should always maintain a positive and optimistic outlook and believe that despite the inequalities that exist, change is still possible regardless of the situation. It is important to understand how the education system and health and social care organisations are set up in the UK to recognise how this can impact the access to care. Responsibility for education in the UK has become a devolved matter for each individual country and overseen by their own government. The Department of Education and The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills predominately oversee the education system in England, with involvement from Local Authorities. Since 2005/2006, Local Authorities are given a grant which is ring fenced for the purpose of education and with consultation from all schools under the Local Authorities control, the finance is distributed, (Department for Education, 2010). There are approximately 20,000 public schools in the UK; a growing number of these are faith schools, almost 7000 at present. In addition to these state schools, there are a growing number of independent schools, almost 2600; responsible for the education of 7% of the population, (Independent Schools Council, 2010). There schools are funded primarily through tuition fees and in some faith schools, donations from the associated church. A large proportion of these schools are faith schools who do not take children outside the designated faith of the school within their catchment area. Historically, health and social care has been provided by the private and voluntary sector. Until the introduction of the Poor Law Act 1930, the majority of care for those in need was provided by charities and the work houses. People who lived in poverty had to rely on hand-outs, if they were deemed worthy of charity, or would have to pay at the point of service. Often it was those most in need of the service that were unable to pay forcing them to go without. The Poor Law Act 1930 moved the responsibility of care from these sectors to the Local Authorities, who began to take over the work houses and Poor Law hospitals (Spicker, 2010). The National Health Service was established in 1948 with the ideology that everyone should be entitled to the same level of health and social services which were free at the point of service. Todays modern National Health Service is overseen by the Department of Health. The country is split into 10 Strategic Health Authorities who control the care provided by the trusts in its area. Care is split into two main areas, Primary and Secondary care. Primary care services include; GPs, Opticians, Dentists and NHS Direct. Secondary care is acute health care and normally only accessed in emergency or extreme situations and includes; The Ambulance Trust, Emergency and Urgent Care Units, Mental Health, Care and NHS Trusts. (NHS, 2010). The National Assistance Act 1948 called for Local Authorities to set up Health and Welfare comities, providing the first form of residential care. In 1970, The Local Authority and Social Services Act of the same year created the first Social Services departments including; childrens, welfare and mental health. (The National Archives, 2010). The National Health Service remained largely unchanged until 1990 when the first major reforms took place. With the general population living longer, the cost of providing care was increasing and becoming unviable. The organisation of the National Health Service had also become unproductive and unyielding to those it was meant to help. Bureaucracy and red tape became the norm when trying to access any services or treatment. The National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 was the first step in the reforms to the health and social services departments. The introduction of the Purchaser/Provider split meant for the first time since the establishment of the National Health Service, government departments were no longer responsible for the provision of all services (Kirkpatrick et al, 1999). The reason for this was threefold; firstly, to lessen the financial responsibility of care provision, secondly, removal of public provision would allow the private and voluntary sectors to grow and expand, making the care market more competitive, and thirdly, to increase choice for service users. This act was also the start for a number of large care homes and institutions being closed and the care provided in the community. The principles behind these changes were well intentioned; allowing people to be cared for within the community promoting independence and control over personal care. However, in reality what was offered were standard care packages and limited resources which did not deliver the true freedom of choice that was promised, (Llewellyn et al, 2008). To supplement the care provided for under the new system, many people have turned to charities to help fill the gap left by the lack of financial assistance. Providing people with the finances to pay for their own care, rather than provide the care itself, has meant people are able to choose how and by whom the care is provided. Many people have chosen to pay friends and relatives for the provision of care rather than rely on agencies and strangers. For Social Workers, this gives an opportunity to think outside the box when producing care plans with individuals. In communities, people are now able to form groups and committees to address and tackle problems and difficulties to provide a tailor made solution. This not only gives people control over their own care but also encourages the community to take action and to help itself. Although the UK has the biggest National Health Service in the world (NHS, 2010), the change in direct care provision and growing reliance on the private and voluntary sectors is more in line with the health and social care services in the United States of America (USA). The USA has a minimalist National Health Service which provides the most basic of health care; caring for those on very low incomes and or in emergencies. Many people living in poverty will be eligible for Medicaid which is a healthcare programme paying for the whole cost of care, but poverty alone is not an automatic eligibility criteria. Many older people, 65yrs and over, are reliant on the Medicare system, which only covers 80% of the cost of care, the remaining 20% must be funded by other means. Anyone who is outside the eligibility for these benefits must pay for private health care insurance, unless it is provided for through employment, (US Department of Health Human Services, 2010). Another benefit provided by the USA government is food stamps; however this is being phased out and replaced by Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which is a short term benefit aimed at getting families back on their feet, (US Department of Health Human Services, 2010). The health and social care system in the USA is structured much the same as the UK, in that the government provides each state (Local Authority) with a budget to spend on care. In addition to this, states in the USA are allowed to set its own tax rates on things such as Income Tax, Sales Tax and House Tax. The proportion of money put back into care differs between states, some providing a higher level of benefits than others. The USA has a much higher dependency than the UK on voluntary organisations, namely the church; who provide care and financial assistance to those in their communities. Comparing the UK and the USA, there seems to be a different attitude towards the provision of care. The UK system is geared up to help prevent poverty and social exclusion, whereas the USA system is designed to help people get out of poverty but placed a bigger reliance on the individual helping themselves. Both systems are becoming more reliant on the community, voluntary organisations and the private sector for the provision of care; lessening the financial burden on the state in the face of an ever aging population. Both countries seem to be unified in the attitude that people should help themselves out of poverty. Although the role of the Social Worker will always be required, there is a strong shift in the role from the provision of direct care to one of care co-ordination. To provide the best possible level of care for both individuals and the community, Social Workers must maintain a high level of knowledge of both statutory and non-statutory providers of care and how best to access them. This essay has demonstrated that poverty is a global problem which is maintained by the way society works by socially excluding people and keeping them impoverished. It has also shown how two similar countries differ in their approach to care; the UK government provides the majority of care with assistance from charities and the private sector, whereas the USA government provides only the most basic forms of assistance which a strong reliance on the church, charities and the public sector. Both countries are in agreement that with an increasing older population, each government needs to do more to lessen their contribution to the provision of care. During this time of change, Social Workers will need to find a way of providing the best possible care for those in their charge.

Aztec Art and Culture :: essays papers

Aztec Art and Culture The Aztec nation is one of the largest and most advanced Indian nations to ever exist on earth. Just about every part of the Aztec life was advance to such a state that at that time of the world the people were living better than many European nations. The Aztec nation is unique in its history, economy, environment, and way of life then any other nation at that time. The Aztec Indians, who are known for their domination of southern and central Mexico, ruled between the 14th and 16th centuries. They built a great empire and developed very modernized ways of doing things. The Aztecs had phenomenal architectural skills and waterway systems. The Indians also had very developed social class and government systems and practiced a form of religion. To begin with, the Aztecs were very skilled in the art of Architecture and waterway systems. â€Å"An example of the monumental architecture within the Aztec society is the great pyramid of Tenochtitlan. Montezuma I, who was the ruler of the Aztecs in 1466, created it. The pyramid was not finished until the rule of Montezuma II, around 1508. Aztec cities and towns also had working drinking water and waste treatment systems. An intricate plumbing system using clay pipes ran down from the mountains around Mexico valley to all of the towns and cities in the valley. As the water ran into each town or city it was dispersed to 10 or 12 places around town were it flowed into a pool for drinking water or was pumped into public baths and toilets. Only nobles had working drinking and bathing systems with running water in their homes. The sewage system worked much like today, having human wastes carried to a collection pool where solids were collected, and then having liquids run off into a series of terraces which filtered the water. Solid wastes were allowed to sit in a collection pool for about six months and then were brought to the lake gardens to be used as fertilizer†(Jennings, Aztec, Pg. 220). At the bottom of the heap were slaves and serfs, or the Tlacotli, who worked the private lands of the nobility. Next came the Macehualtin, ‘the fortunate,’ as they were called because they were equally free of the heavy responsibility of the nobility and of the slave’s liability to being basely used. They were the merchants, shopkeepers and artisans that made up the bulk of the population.

Good Will Hunting Essays -- Film Analysis, Good Will Hunting

A studious young man, an open book these two images swirl around the screen in a kaleidoscope effect, this was the introductory scene of "Good Will Hunting." This scene is followed by Ben Afflick, knocking on Will's door, when Will comes out a credit rolls by that says, "screenplay written by Ben Afflick and Matt Damon," just as the two walk side by side. This shows how perfectly the makers of this movie have everything timed, down to the credits. Also, the timing shows when the professor's assistant and Will are alone and the assistant tells Will how lucky he is to have someone believe in him as the professor does. Just as he finishes saying this the professor walks in and suddenly the assistant has something better to do than just sit there so he gets up and leaves. The cinematography in this movie is good, as right of way the viewer of this movie knows Will lives in one of the poorer sections of Boston, as his front yard is cluttered with junk and the look of t he neighborhood surrounding his house is anything but colorful. The neighborhood looks gray and drab. Also, one of the many settings is a local bar which has the look of a neighborhood bar with Christmas type lights strung and normal looking people filling the place. Another setting is a Harvard classroom and a community college classroom. In the Harvard classroom the students appear to be attentive, clean cut, well dressed, and enthusiastic, while the students in the community classroom are bar...

Six Sigma :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  First off I am pleased that you, Books-R-Us, is going to adapt to the Six Sigma process. Not only will things run smoother, the product better, but the end customer will also be happier. I am going to plan out the course for you below; if you need any additional help here is the master black belt who you will want to contact:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Now assuming that everyone has already read Six Sigma for Everyone by George Eckes, I’m not going to go into defining all of the technical terms; he does a fine job of doing that in his book. Business Case: We are going to revamp out assembly line project to run both effectively and efficiently. The assembly line is the core of the business, and if it isn’t running both effectively and efficiently, we are loosing money. Problem Statement: We have made no steps to improve our line, even though we have the demand for our books. We only have one employee, who by the way can’t keep up with the demand. We need to get to the point to where for every 1,000,000 books are sold madam customer only rejects 3 or 4. Now this would be easy to do if we were only putting out 5-6 books a day, but we also need to put out a great number of books. Project Scope: Bottom line, like I have sated over and over, is improving our effectiveness and still maintain a level of being efficient. Easier said than done, right? Wrong, if we focus on where the bottlenecks are in the line, and focus on the areas that are causing the books to be rejected (I.E. the folding process) we can improve our system dramatically. We are not going to worry about the bottom line and net profit. That isn’t your job as assembly line workers; we will leave that up to the group of executives for Books R Us. We realize that in the beginning we may be loosing money because this is going to take time to turn things around. We only want to worry about the assembly line, that’s it. Goals and Objectives: Right now at the current step of the process (with one employee), we are making 4 books per shift, but we are also having 4 books rejected. We are loosing money, obviously. We have the demand for our books, if we put our 1,000 books and madam customer rejected 0, we would sell 1,000 books.

Chemistry Background Information Essay

When a person is exercising, or undergoing some sort of a strenuous activity, it has often been observed that they drink a lot of drinks. This maybe in the form of water, energy drinks, juice or it may even be carbonated sodas. Why is this so What Benefits do athletes get from drinking energy drinks How does fitness relate to energy drinks This answer lies in the basic chemical structure of energy drinks. These drinks consumed during exercising are much more complex than what they look like. They comprise of some vital nutrients which give the respective drinkers quick energy. Energy Drinks Energy drinks are drinks designed to increase stamina and improve physical performance. Some energy drinks are designed especially for elite athletes, but most are produced and marketed for the general community. The main ingredients in energy drinks are caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone. Some new drinks on the market also contain opium poppy seed extract or ephedrine. Details of the ingredients present in some energy drinks: Chlorine Ions pH Glucose is the body’s preferred fuel. Energy drinks contain a ton of sugar which means, they contain a lot of energy. It’s a carbohydrate, and a lot of exercise regiments suggest a good dose of carbohydrates for workouts lasting more than an hour. However, to much sugar intake has been proved to cause diabetes. Taurine is an amino acid that our body naturally produces. It helps regulate heartbeat, muscle contractions, and energy levels. Usually the body makes enough that supplements are not needed. It’s thought, but not proven, that under â€Å"stress conditions† like illness, physical exertion, or injury, the body does not create enough and supplements can help. Taurine might be a â€Å"mild inhibitory neurotransmitter†, some studies show it helps with excitable brain states, suggesting its addition to most energy drinks. Ginseng, an adaptogenic herb, is known to increase energy, relieve stress and increase memory. However, it does contain some anti-fatigue components. Right now it’s suspected that ginseng helps stimulate the hypothalamic and pituitary glands, which then secrete something called adrenal corticotropic hormone. Ginseng is nothing that’s naturally created in the body, so having it in drinks certainly won’t hurt. 200mg/day is the standard dose, but one can safely take up to 2700mg. Anti-oxidants help the body gracefully recover from the damage of free radicals. Vitamin C is the most common anti-oxidant. Energy drinks containing a lot of Vitamin C can be compared to a really fresh orange juice. Anti-oxidants help fend off illness and prevent cellular damage. Vitamins C, E, and Vitamin A, are all anti-oxidants. Besides these common ingredients, energy drinks contain, sodium, magnesium and other ions. They are all a mixture of different chemicals performing their desired actions when it enters the human body. Thus, in this research project, we decided to analyse energy drinks and perform different types of qualitative tests on these drinks; so as to verify whether or not what the labels on the drinks, say, are true. As a result, different drinks are to be tested qualitatively. At the end of the experiments, a much more general idea of energy drink contents would be seen. In our research project, we will try to compare the qualitative contents of some energy drinks. These drinks will vary from international drinks to simple local energy drinks. To differentiate energy drinks form other drinks, such drinks can be compared to carbonate ones as well. We will be performing the following qualitative tests: 1) Test for Chloride Anion 2) Test for Reducing Sugars 3) Test for pH 4) Test for Electrolyte Aim: To test numerous energy drinks for some essential chemicals present, and validate its ingredients, as suggested by the manufacturers. Apparatus: To carry out these tests in a systematic order, a lot of materials are required. The list of the apparatus needed is given below: * Test Tubes (3-4) * Beakers * Dropper * Tripod Stand * Bunsen Burner * Distilled Water * pH meter * Connecting Wires * Battery * Mili-Ammeter * Light Emitting Diode (LED) * * Benedict’s solution * Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) solution Variables: There are not many variables in our experiment because of the fact that there is no quantitative data. All data to be tested is qualitative. Independent Variable Constant Variable Dependent Variable Chloride Anion: Energy Drinks Volume of Silver Nitrate (AgNO3) solution used Presence of Chloride ions Test for Reducing Sugars Energy Drinks Volume of Benedict’s solution used Presence of Reducing Sugars Test for pH Energy Drinks Volume of Drink pH Value (Acidic or Basic) Test for Electrolyte Energy Drinks Number of Batteries Connected Conductivity of the energy drink Manipulation of Variables: Procedure/Method: A lot of simple steps need to be carried out to achieve valid data. Since four different tests are being carried out, it would be better if the steps for each test ismentioned and followed separately. Test for Chloride Anion: Data Processing: Conclusion and Evaluation: Test for Reducing Sugar: Place a small amount of the solution to be tested into a test-tube. Add an equal amount of Benedict’s reagent into the test-tube and place this test-tube into a water bath. If the solution turns dark yellow or brick red, it is safe to assume that reducing sugars are present in the solution that had been tested. Test for Chloride Ion: Place a small amount of the solution to be tested into a test-tube. Add a few drops of silver nitrate. If a cloudy white precipitate is formed in the solution, it means that the solution contains the chloride ion. Test for the pH: Place a small amount of the solution to be tested into a small beaker. Calibrate the pH meter by placing it into the calibrating solution, and then testing it my measuring the pH of water. After this, place the pH meter into the solution that needs to be tested and then record the reading that appears on the digital display. Data Collection and Processing: All the data collected during the course of the experiment is summarized below: Pocari Sweat POCARI SWEAT is a world renowned mild tasting, refreshing drink which replenishes body fluids lost through perspiration. It is arguably the most widespread energy drink. Information received from: http://www.pocarisweat.com.ph/about.aspx Picture taken from: http://iheartjapan.com/pictures/food/Pocari%20Sweat.jpg Pocari Sweat Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It can conduct currents up to 20 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.6. This is an acidic solution. Vita zone (orange) Vita Zone (Orange), just like our previous drink is an energy drink produced in Indonesia This drink has an orange flavor. We have taken up these similar drinks (both are Vita Zone) as we wanted to compare the element of flavor on the drink’s chemical components. As a result, we would get a much better insight into the uses of such chemicals. Picture Taken From: http://www.vitazone.com/assets/images/inner/var_orange.jpg Vita Zone (Orange) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It can conduct currents up to 45 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.4. This is an acidic solution. Vita zone (Citrus) Vita Zone (Citrus) is an energy drink produced in Indonesia. It is known for its different flavors which help attract athletes. However, the drink we are testing is Vita Zone (Citrus), which has a citrus (lemon) essence added to it. Picture Taken From: http://www.vitazone.com/assets/images/inner/var_citrus.jpg Vita Zone (Citrus) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It can conduct currents up to 25 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.9. This is an acidic solution. #Lemon Water Lemon Water is an energy drink produced in Indonesia. It is known for its quantity of Vitamin C that it provides athletes. It has a total of 1000mg of Vitamin C added into the drink itself. This drink is lemon flavored. Lemon Water Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. However, it is a weak electrolyte as it can conduct currents only up to 4 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. Then, the colour changed directly to black; due to the presence of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.6. This is an acidic solution. #Orange Water Orange Water is an energy drink produced in Indonesia. It is known for its quantity of Vitamin C that it provides athletes. It has a total of 1000mg of Vitamin C added into the drink itself. This drink is orange flavored. Orange Water Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It can conduct currents up to 20 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. Then, the colour changed directly to black; due to the presence of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.9. This is an acidic solution. #UC 1000 (Lemon) This drink is manufactured by the same company as our previous two drinks. As a result, it does have the 1000 mg of Vitamin C added to it. However, this drink is carbonated. It has a natural lemon essence added to it. UC 1000 (Lemon) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a mild electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 10 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. Then, the colour changed directly to black; due to the presence of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.7. This is an acidic solution. #UC 1000 (Orange) This drink is manufactured by the same company as our previous two drinks. As a result, it does have the 1000 mg of Vitamin C added to it. However, this drink is carbonated. It has a natural orange essence added to it. UC 1000 (Orange) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a mild electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 10 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. Then, the colour changed directly to black; due to the presence of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.7. This is an acidic solution. Pepsi #Pepsi (Blue) To compare the contents of energy drinks and simple carbonated soft drinks, tests on Pepsi Blue, Coca Cola and Coca Cola Zero were carried out. Pepsi Blue was launched in mid-2002 and discontinued in the United States in 2004, although it remains available in some other countries. Its berry flavor was the result of taste-testing over 100 flavors over a 9-month period. It is consumed by many teenagers and adults alike. Information Taken From: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Pepsi_Blue Pepsi Blue Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Negative Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a mild electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 8 mA. Solution remained blue. Thus, there was no change in colour and no white precipitate. This suggests the absence of chloride ions. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.1. This is an acidic solution. #Coca Cola This is a carbonated beverage sold in more than 200 countries worldwide. It is arguably the most renowned drink in the world. Coca Cola Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Negative Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a mild electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 6 mA. Solution remained black. Thus, there was no change in colour and no white precipitate. This suggests the absence of chloride ions. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.4. This is an acidic solution. #Coca Cola (Zero) This is a carbonated beverage sold in more than 200 countries worldwide. It is arguably the most renowned drink in the world. However, this version of Coca Cola has Zero Sugar in it, as it can be seen from the name. It is claimed that this drink contains no sugar at all. Coca Cola (Zero) Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Negative Negative Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is a weak electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 6 mA. Solution remained black. Thus, there was no change in colour and no white precipitate. This suggests the absence of chloride ions. The final colour was that of black. There was no significant colour change during the course of the experiment. As a result, reducing sugars are absent. The pH was recorded as 3.5. This is an acidic solution. #Red Bull Red Bull is the most consumed energy drink in the world. It is adapted from a Thai energy drink and is widely known for its Taurine content. Athletes all over the world consume this very drink to give them a sudden boost of energy. Red Bull Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Negative Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is an electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 17.5 mA. Solution remained light brown in colour. Thus, there was no colour change and no white precipitate. This suggests the absence of chloride ions. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.5. This is an acidic solution. Along with the routine tests carried out on this drink, a special ingredient was tested. Due to the unique smell of the drink, one can easily figure out the presence of esters in the drink. As a result, the test for Unsaturation was carried out. Bromine Water Test: Negative The colour of bromine water did not change. It did not decolorize and it can be concluded that Red Bull contains saturated esters. #Hormoviton Hormoviton is a drink associated in building up one’s stamina. It is consumed by males only to increase their endurance and stamina for different purposes. As a result, it can be included in the same category as energy drinks. Hormoviton Electrolyte Test Chloride Test Test for Reducing Sugars pH Test Result Positive Positive Positive Acidic Remarks The solution contains electricity. It is an electrolyte and can conduct currents up to 34 mA. A cloudy white precipitate was obtained. Chloride anions are present in the solution. The final colour was that of reddish-brown. This suggests the presence of carbohydrates (glucose). The pH was recorded as 3.8. This is an acidic solution. Conclusion and Evaluation: Not enough is currently known about energy drinks and their effect on health and wellbeing. The producers of energy drinks make many claims about the health effects of their products. They say that their products can increase physical endurance, improve reaction time, boost mental alertness and concentration, increase overall wellbeing, stimulate metabolism, improve stamina and help eliminate waste from the body. The drinks are marketed as healthy, fun and youthful, and many children, young people and adults are taken in by the excitement created around them, believing these claims to be true. However, the evidence shows that it may be wise to be cautious in our consumption of energy drinks. Caffeine, taurine and glucuronolactone occur naturally in the body, but the fact that they are present in much higher doses in energy drinks may be cause for concern. Scientists say that caffeine can have an effect on the growing brain and that it may cause a decline in the body’s immune system. For now, health authorities have determined that energy drinks are generally safe for consumption, with some cautions. Evidence is beginning to emerge that energy drinks may be harmful to some members of our community. It may be best to avoid giving these drinks to children under the age of ten. With older children and young people, watch closely the amount of energy drinks they consume as well as any effects on their mood or behaviour. If you are unsure or would like further advice, consult your doctor or other health professional.

Restatement of Financials

Form 10-Q is lied quarterly by a company and Form 8-K contains current reports that disclose specific events. If a company is audited and weaknesses are found, restatements to these statements may be necessary. In the case of USA Mobility, auditors did identify some areas that warranted a restatement while conducting and audit in the first quarter of 2013 the company's financial statements for the 2012 reporting year.USA Mobility Audit Committee determined through the audit performed that a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting and disclosure was identified within Amoco Software Incorporated that is owned and operated by USA Mobility. Amoco Software was acquired by USA Mobility on March 2, 2011. The auditors revealed Mammon's procedures in place for revenue recognition were poorly designed and did not allow for proper internal controls to be utilized. Revenue was being recognized by the company during quarters when it should not have been recognized.Upon this finding, USA Mobility had to determine the correct timeshare to recognize revenue for its software segment. Prior to the audit, the revenue for software operations was being recognized by using the residual method and the company would recognize revenue for software licenses upon completion of services. The company deemed services complete when the product was available for use by the customer. In addition, the company offered services after installations were completed for up to 90 days. Since the company offers post-install services, revenue recognition should be delayed until after that period expires.This determination was made when reviewing audit findings to erect prior reported revenue. The reported periods affected by this finding were the first three quarters of 2011. USA Mobility issued a press release which contained notification of the restatements for the first three quarters of 2011 and the late filing of the 2011 annual report for the company. Specifically, the compa ny addressed the changes to the financial statements in a press release. The main changes made to the financial statements affected software revenue and total revenue for the company.In the first quarter of 011 , the software segment revenue was adjusted from $4,799,000. 00 down to $2,146,000. 00. That is a decrease of 55%. In the second quarter, the software segment revenue was adjusted from down to $9,435,000. 00. That is a decrease of 28%. In the third quarter, the software segment revenue was adjusted from down to $11,191 ,OHO. O. That a decrease of 13%. USA Mobility also reported adjustments caused by the restatement to its total revenue for 2011. The first quarter revenue of $57,335,000. 00 was decreased by five percent because of the restatement.The second quarter revenue of $65,171 ,OHO. O was decreased by six percent and the third quarter revenue of $61 was decreased by three percent. The collective revenue of $242,907,000. 00 for 2011 was decreased by four percent as a res ult of the company's restatement. USA Mobility balance sheet also had to be adjusted. Deferred revenue was affected during each quarter during 2011. Each quarter showed a higher deferred revenue amount as a result of the correct method the company was using to recognize revenue to remain in compliance.The overall effects of the restatement were limited to the software segment of the company. In turn, these changes also affected the overall revenue numbers and the way the company reports deferred revenue for future purposes. The reduction in revenue did not have a negative impact on stockholders' earnings. The price of stock per share has remained steady prior to and since the announcement. USA Mobility did publish a press release to inform all parties with an interest about measures the company has taken to rectify the situation and will continue to use to remain in compliance for future audits.

Non-Commissioned Officer in the US Army

The desire to serve the nation and protect the people as well as defend the Constitution is the primary duty of a soldier. The soldiers’job is a tough one and a big responsibility which consequently brings them to risk their lives, wealth and family for the sake of the nation. In the US Army, serving the Americans are delivered in different nature, there are varied forms of duties and roles of the soldiers that they portray. Some are tasked to perform in combat and some are assigned for logistic support or maybe as non-combatants who are commonly called non-commissioned officers.The Merriam-Webster dictionary defined non-commissioned officer as â€Å"a subordinate officer (as a sergeant) in the army, air force, or marine corps appointed from among enlisted personnel†. (MW, 2007) A non-commissioned officer or also known as an NCO or Noncom, is a member of the military force from enlisted rank who has not attended officer training program but performs as a lower-ranking s upport crew who also has authority over the other enlisted members. The NCOs are tasked to provide logistical support that is mostly administrative or even technical in nature.Most of their duties are in training programs including capability building for personnel or advisory to the officer corps. The NCOs are usually ranging from the lower level positions of a sergeant for the US army, corporals for the US marine and warrant officers while for the navies NCOs are mostly belonging as petty officers. Most military units regard NCOs as the support system or the â€Å"backbone† of their services. Their services are crucial in the development and well-being of the military officers esp.regarding performance of their duties as officers. The primary responsibilities are along administration and office management. There are also senior NCOs or whom they call Petty Chief Officers who mostly perform leadership concerns such as leading larger groups of members, mentoring of junior sol diers, and counselling senior members relative to their duties and responsibilities. Some NCOs perform the highest levels of service such as advisory in all concerns regarding the welfare or well-being and utilization of the enlisted members.As a Noncommissioned Officer, there is a difference in the way other people relate with greater expectations having to assume more responsibilities. Such change in the way people treat an NCO is brought about by the fact that an NCO is a member of a Noncommissioned Officer Corps known as the â€Å"backbone of the Army†. (Pukansky, 1999) NCOs live by codes of honor as they perform in delivering their duties and accomplishing the mission. These codes of honor are exemplified in the NCO Creed.It identifies the values or principles that are essential in effectively carrying out responsibilities as noncommissioned officers and leaders. NCOs are committed to excellence in service. One of the creed statements talk about professionalism â€Å"No one is more professional than I. † As a professional, an NCO must live by the guiding standards and exhibit the army values that others may follow. Building leadership qualities is expressed in the creed. â€Å"I am the non-commissioned officer, a leader of soldiers†.Effective team work is also the battlecry of the NCOs apart from the other qualities that are expected from a leader that are essential in carrying out the role of an NCO. NCOs are also expected to humbly recognize the roles of those members in the NCO corps who served and the relevance of the group in the development of the US Army. The creed also called for selflessness by putting the welfare and development of the others before oneself as part of its commitment to serve the army. Competence is another area that an NCO must believe in. The creed believes that â€Å"competence is my matchword†.Demonstrating high level of competence and proficiency breeds trust and confidence from the members of the army. An NCO is expected to display competence and look for opportunities to further develop the skills and talents that competent leaders possess. The inherent role of an NCO must recognize the welfare of the soldiers. This is one major responsibility that an NCO must recognize by heart. To serve the other soldiers and aim for their well being must come first and place their needs above one’s own. The NCOs are expected to guard the soldiers’ well-being and defend them at almost any costApart from the above desired qualities, the NCO Creed believes that an NCO must also possess the following characteristics : to be fair and impartial when endorsing rewards and punishment, constantly and consistently provide communication to soldiers, exhibit loyalty to peers and seniors, display integrity and moral courage and most of all believe that NCOs are professionals and leaders. NCOs may neither have undergone officer training program in the military nor have commissioned offi cial ranks as soldiers in the military force, however, they serve better purposes in the welfare and development of the soldiers.The NCO corps have been truly recognized by the many as the â€Å"backbone of the Army†. Hence, they are essential in the military workforce as drivers in motivating soldiers and bringing the whole US Army into excellence. b. ) Why should we, as leaders, live by the 7 Army Core Values (Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage) on a daily basis. Most of the American people look up to the army not only as protectors or professionals of arms but as men of integrity. These soldiers are expected by the people to exhibit values that are inherent in being nation protectors and defenders.Lt. Gen. Jackson said â€Å"What is life without honor? Degradation is worse than death. † This statement underpins the importance of integrity as a soldier. The US Army observed the seven (7) army values that an American soldi er must live by. (US Recruiting, 2006) It is strongly believed that the cornerstone of the best military force is the values that they possess. The US Army is a values-based group that highlights the importance of teamship. Army Values will help build a strong, cohesive organization that, in turn, will become a source of strength and institutional knowledge for all the members of the military force.The Army’s profession is neither easy nor ordinary. There is always a need for team work in dealing with complex and risky conditions. For the group to achieve the mission, there is a need for a need to set common goals and principles that will guide each soldier in performing their duties. These goals and guiding principles must reflect the values of a dignified soldier and the values of the nation. Since the whole nation is counting on each of the soldiers, the army values must be embodied in the daily undertaking of each individual and as soldiers getting ready for the future, t hese values shall guide the way.As former Army Chief of Staff General Dennis J. Reimer stated, â€Å"The Army is, at heart, a community of Active and Reserve Soldiers, civilian employees and their families. Communities thrive when people care about one another, work with one another and trust one another. I believe today's Army carries within it this spirit and sense of community. . . . I am optimistic about the future and convinced that because we hold tight to a strong tradition of commitment to one another, we are and will remain the best Army on Earth. † (Forscom, 2007)A soldier’s loyal allegiance to protect the nation is coupled with core values which are deemed to be of equal importance to protecting the nation. These values is expressed via the acronym LDRSHP, these are : Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor and Personal Courage. These values are not only statements on how soldiers should behave but serve as their personal identity. These core values define who they are. The core values and their significance in the present soldier’s life are the following: first and foremost is Loyalty.Loyalty means genuine devotion to a person or other people _it maybe a unit or family or the army. Showing one’s support to a person, superior or even an activity despite its flaws or negative views from peers or subordinates calls for audacity and loyalty. A loyal soldier is one who supports or defends the leadership and stands up for other soldier. He/she will sacrifice for the leader, his country and its people. The US military core value states: â€Å"Bear true faith and allegiance to the US Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other soldiers. † This shows unquestionable loyalty to its country and its heritage.A member of the army who exhibits loyalty prioritizes duties according to the highest where the Constitution is its foremost consideration, the Army as the second priority including the unit, and lastly the self. An army who shows faithfulness to the organization always puts his own welfare the least of all. Showing allegiance also means carrying out the mission and orders from superior without showing personal critical perspective towards its superiors. Another critical characteristic of a loyal soldier is its faithfulness towards his/her fellow soldiers that may consequently bring about confidence and trust from its fellow soldier.It is this kind of devotion that heightens cohesiveness or bond among the soldiers. An ideal exemplar of an action of loyalty is the case about Private Ernest West, a soldier in the L Company. His story happened in 1952 concerning his selflessness and allegiance towards his fellow soldiers by rescuing them from an ambush. Private West, despite the difficulty he encountered during the attack wherein he suffered serious wounds losing one of his eyes. His loyalty to his fellow armies inspired everyone in his infantry which brought him up towards the ladder of succes s. Another army core value is Duty.Duty is defined as a work that you are obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons. It means it is a legal or moral obligation to complete assigned task to the fullest of your ability. An army must do what needs to be done without being told to do it. This requires willingness to accept full responsibility for a soldier’s actions. Duty is not time bound such as putting in time to work from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. in a day but it is a selfless service to one’s country, unit, family and people. The saying â€Å"I regret that I have but one life to give to my country† is an example of an indisputable commitment to duty.Being dutiful means carrying out its jobs to the best of one’s ability and sacrifice its needs in pursuing excellence. The duty which Private Sasser has showed is one of the most inspiring characteristics of duty. Sasser was in the force as a medical aide. His company was making an air assault when it was under attack by enemies which swept numerous casualties. He offered to assist the wounded without hesitation, despite the wounds he suffered during the encounter. Sasser did not showed he was immobilized due to the serious wounds in his legs.Instead of accepting medical attention, he ran through a barrage of rocket and automatic weapons fire to aid casualties of the initial attack and, after giving them urgently needed treatment, continued to search for other wounded. Despite two additional wounds immobilizing his legs, he dragged himself through the mud toward another soldier 100 meters away. Although in agonizing pain and faint from loss of blood, he continued to save the lives of other people. With this, he was conferred with the medal of honors. According to Gen. Bruce Clarke, despite of age or grade soldiers must be treated as mature individuals.Soldiers are engaged in a dignified occupation and honorable profession that they deserve to be treated with dignity and honor. Respect is a n important value that an army must possess. The golden rule best exemplifies the idea of respect. In the US soldier’s code, â€Å"Treat people as they should be treated. † A soldier is expected to treat other people with dignity and respect. This allows him/her to gain the same treatment from other people. This begins with a basic understanding that each and everyone is worthy to be respected as human beings. A leader of the army will not gain respect if he/she shows superiority over his subordinates.Respecting fellow soldiers means having faith towards them in fulfilling their jobs and duties without necessarily showing them who is the boss. To show respect to others, safety and welfare of others is its prime consideration. However, it is also important to nourish one’s self physically in order to promote health and well being of the school. Discrimination, harassment and inequity are the opposites of respect which may block cohesiveness and trust towards each member of an organization. Selfless Service is beyond a soldier’s consideration of one’s self.The US army pledged to â€Å"Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own. † The sake of the nation comes first. The priority is always the needs of the country or the people. Serving one’s country is about putting one’s duty above one’s own interest or without having in mind what one can gain. When a soldier takes action it must be for the good of the others and not to increase his/her standing. SPC Fitzmaurice received a medal of honor when he displayed selfless service in Vietnam on 23 March. The courageous deed was realized when he threw his personal safety above the others by shielding fellow soldiers.Fitzmaurice suffered multiple wounds and partial loss of sight. SPC Fitzmaurice's heroism in action at the risk of his life contributed significantly to the successful defense of the position and resulted in savi ng the lives of a number of his fellow soldiers. Doing one’s duty in the army is doing service before one’s self. What it does mean for selfless-service is to complete one’s duty prior to its own comfort zones. The welfare or well being of the entire nation and the organization come before the soldier’s own. Selfless service may be confused with loyalty and duty as they are closely related.This is an indication on the importance of accepting all the Army values and ignoring none. Honor is said to be a guide for character and conduct. It is something one earns. As we know, one of the highest military awards is the medal of honors. This is conferred to soldiers who displayed the virtue of living up to the values of the army. Honor starts with knowing what is ethically right and wrong and demonstrating what is right. This should begin with sincerity in one’s actions and maintaining integrity and honesty to one’s daily work as a soldier. It take s a good soldier to bring honor. As Gen. Jackson once said â€Å"What is life without honor?Degradation is worse than death. † As the US army code puts it : â€Å"Do what’s right, legally and morally†. Integrity is a virtue a soldier should possess. This is something to be developed by conforming to moral ethics. A good soldier has moral standards and truthful in adhering to these principles both in word and deed. It is not enough to know what is right, but by demonstrating the right makes a soldier earn the trust and confidence of others. Military men of integrity act according to the dictates of the moral ethics and not according to decisions that is convenient for the moment or that temporarily works for a certain situation.A good soldier possesses personal courage i. e. in physical and moral planes. Bravery is one of the basic characteristic that a soldier must possess. A child when asked about bravery always cites a soldier as an example. This means that co urage is attached to the identity of a soldier. Building a noble character of a soldier means developing a physical and moral courage that are required to combat the conflicts and demands in their jobs. It means taking the risks in war despite the fear of being killed. As personal courage is not the absence of fear but it is the ability to face danger and take action on what is needed.Personal courage does not only mean the ability to combat the conflicts but it also embodies the idea about taking responsibility for the decisions and actions made. Courage also involves the ability to do self-assessment and confront new ideas, and even to the extent to change. Leaders are expected to make decisions that involve risk and often take a stand during times of stress. Personal courage has long been associated with the military force where several narratives about the dangers and hardships that soldiers have successfully faced are notable.Personal courage is not the absence of fear but it i s taking positive action in spite of the fear. Physical courage means overcoming fears of bodily harm and still being able to do your duty. It’s the bravery that allows a soldier to operate in combat in spite of the fear of wounds or death. It is what gets the soldier at airborne school out the aircraft door. It’s what allows an infantryman to assault a bunker to save his buddies or a medic to treat the wounded while under fire. With physical courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and, at times, risking personal safety.Private Silvestre S. Herrera is a good replica on the fighting spirit and courage which are duly recognized by the higher authorities. Private Herrera was conferred with the medal of honors last 2006 due to his courage and fighting spirit in battling the explosives that burst before him hitting his leg. Despite intense pain and the unchecked bleeding of his wounds he lay in the minefield, firing to suppress the enemy while others of his plat oon skirted the minefield to flank the enemy position. His courage and fighting spirit reflected honor upon his adopted nation and that of his birth.Private Herrera received the Medal of Honor These values are not only a statement for how soldiers must behave; these are doctrines that tell them who they are. Army leaders emulate these values because they are the standard for action. Such standard for behavior must remain to be the foundation of trust which the Americans expects from the military (Snider and Watkins, 2000). In relation to this, the military principles rest on the foundation of the seven Army Values. These values reflect the standards to which the whole military force adheres to, regardless of its mission.In the same way as these Values lead the way thoughts are formed, words are acted, and professional principles of every soldier, so will those same values guide the actions of those who intends to support and follow them. The Americans hold the entire military force to a higher level, not only the front-line combatants. All the priorities time tabled for implementation and the efficiencies gained or the improvements in quality achieved are attainable in keeping with the Army Values. This transformation brings with it many challenges to overcome.However, it is still recommendable to continually evaluate if successes of the organization are due to adherence to these values. The United States Army serves around the world in the many forms of missions and roles. Although several reasons are known why they join the force, at some level one of them is the desire to serve the nation and the mechanism in perfecting their service is through these values. Hence, these seven values are the main principles that must guide each soldier in their daily undertakings which will lead them towards excellence in service to the people and the nation._____________________________ Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dan gerous and dreadful. — Samuel Johnson References Don M. Snider and Gayle L. Watkins, â€Å"The Future of the Army Profession: A Need for Renewal and Redefinition,† Parameters (August 2000): 5-20. Field Arty (1989). A Brief History of the Backbone of the Army. (Aug. 1989) pp. 17-22. Per. Condensed version of handout at SGM Academy. Forscom . (2007, June 27 updated). Call to Duty : Army Values. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from http://www. forscom. army.mil/reeng/Army%20Part1%20Values. htm U. S. Army Recruiting Battalion. (2006, January 18 updated). Army Values Training for Future Soldier Training Program Soldiers. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from http://www. usarec. army. mil/1stbde/1obn/FS/values. html Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2007). Retrieved from http://www. m-w. com/dictionary/noncommissioned+officer. htm on November 12, 2007 Pukansky, Michael W. (1999) The Army Chaplaincy. Reflections on Leadership. Retrieved from http://www. usachcs. army. mil/TACarchive/AC71M/refle ctions_on_leadership. htm on November 13, 2007.