Essay on Symbols and Symbolism in the Poems of Robert Frost

Symbolism in the Poems of Robert Frost Nature has inspired countless poets from primitive times to the present. They have used it as a metaphor for virtually all human emotions-his stormy brow, her sky blue eyes, as wild as a summer storm. Very few, however, have so masterfully crafted their verse to fully express the range of nature’s power and influence, or suited the tone of a poem to encompass both human nature and ‘true’ nature. This is true in the poetic works of Robert Frost. The aspects of nature that are continually demonstrated in the poems of Frost symbolize both the physical world and its changes, and the nature of humans. It can easily be argued that Frost believed that little difference existed between†¦show more content†¦He would speak plainly of an emotion or a thought, and not use symbolism to represent the prolific possibilities that could lie within a simple subject such as the bee. All of Frost’s poems can be said to contain symbolism and more often that not it seems to be Frost’s goal to instill in the reader their own idea of what the symbolism may be. While there are multitudes of ways to use symbolism, there is also a multitude of possibilities within each and every poem, if not every line of his poems. Frost once said, ‘Poetry permits the one possible way to say one thing and mean another.’ (Frost and Nature, www.frostfriends.org) Frost’s greatest power lies within his mastery of association. This begins with observation and ends with a connection. ‘The figure (of a poem) is the same as for love, it begins in delight and ends in wisdom. A poem is a thought-felt thing,’ Frost said. (Frost and Nature, www.frostfriends.org) Robert Frost seems to use nature as a background. He usually begins a poem with an observation of something in nature and then directs the poem towards a connection to some human situation or concern. He has been quoted to say, ‘I am not a nature poet. There is almost always a person in my poems.’ (Frost and Nature, www.frostfriends.org) Frost believed that poetry should introduce ideas, but not takes sides. Therefore, he neverShow MoreRelatedCritical Analysis Of Robert Frosts The Road Not Taken1257 Words   |  6 Pagesthe path they have chosen in life? Robert Frost attempts to answer this question throughout the poem by using many literary devices. In other terms, the poet is alluding to a lesson in everyones life; Once a path is being determined, it is inevitable to change the choices because they are in the past. The poet uses imagery to create a visual picture in the readers head of two paths in the woods with the freedom to take either one, but the poet also u ses symbolism and repetition to really drive hisRead MoreEssay on The Intricate Meanings of Robert Frost s Poetry784 Words   |  4 PagesRobert Frost is considered by many to be one of the greatest poets of the twentieth century. Frost’s work has been regarded by many as unique. Frost’s poems mainly take place in nature, and it is through nature that he uses sense appealing-vocabulary to immerse the reader into the poem. In the poem, â€Å"Hardwood Groves†, Frost uses a Hardwood Tree that is losing its leaves as a symbol of life’s vicissitudes. â€Å"Frost recognizes that before things in life are raised up, they must fall down† (BloomRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1025 Words   |  5 PagesThe Road Not Taken by Robert Frost is a deep poem. This poem is an autobiographical poem of Frost’s life. However Frost’s first intention in writing the poem was not to be taken seriously. He had written it mocking one of his fel low writing acquaintances because of indecision incidents his acquaintance had made while they would go on walks together. However, when people read the narrative much more seriously than it was intended to be. One of those people that took it seriously was the same acquaintanceRead MoreThe Inevitability of Death1315 Words   |  6 Pagesto hold it in one’s hand. Once that vapor has gone away, nothing can be done to get it back; only for those whose vapor has not gone to continue living. This theme has been taken on and used by many different writers, such as, Robert Frost in his poem, â€Å"Out, Out†. This poem is about a young boy who is cutting wood in his yard when his sister comes outside to tell him that it is time for dinner. Out of excitement, he loses control of the saw and cuts his hand terribly. He begs his sister not to letRead MoreThe Speaker of Birches by Robert Frost653 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Birches† is a poem written by Robert Frost that h as a speaker, imagery, and symbols. The speaker in this poem is Frost. He explains his perspective of the birch trees in first person. Imagery is a word, phrase, or sentence that shows an experience or object. There are numerous examples of imagery in this poem. Symbols are something in the poem that stands for something else. There are various symbols in â€Å"Birches.† In â€Å"Birches,† Frost talks about how he can view birch trees in winter that have bentRead MoreThe Road Not Taken By Robert Frost1287 Words   |  6 Pagesfate. Robert Frost is widely known for his examinations of philosophical topics, such as fate, that have generated influential writings and relatable themes. His ability to capture nature only furthers the beauty of these philosophies. â€Å"The Road Not Taken† depicts Frost’s ideas on decision making with the use of symbolism of two paths through poetry. The effects of the two paths and the difficulty of the decision are furthered through the tone used to describe the differences in paths. Frost createsRead MoreRobert Frost Essay example646 Words   |  3 PagesRobert Frost Robert Frost was the most popular American poet of the twentieth century. Most Americans recognize his name, the titles of and lines from his best-known poems, and even his face. Given his immense popularity, it is a remarkable testimony to the extent of his achievement that he is also considered to be one of the greatest, if not the very greatest, of modern American poets. #8230;the life and work of Americas premier poet- the only truly national poet America has yet produced(Parini23)Read MoreThe Road Not Taken Analysis987 Words   |  4 PagesRoad Not Taken is a poem written by Robert Frost. This poem is a great candidate to be one of the world s best and this analysis will unveil why it is so. The poetic devices used in the poem bring forth its deeper meaning which ultimately resonates with the reader s emotions. However not only this poem is great because of the literary experience it gives but it is also beautiful on a simple structural level. First lets look at the structural aspect of this poem. It contains four stanzasRead MoreThe Symbolism of the Birches839 Words   |  4 PagesOn the surface, the poem Birches by Robert Frost is simply about a man who would like to believe that birch trees are bent from young boys swinging on them, despite the evidence that it is merely a result of the ice-storms. Even with this knowledge he prefers the idea of the boys swinging from the trees because he was a birch swinger years ago and continuously dreams of returning and experiencing those pleasant memories once again. From a more explored and analytical point of view, the birch treesRead MoreSuide in The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost and Dreams of Suicide by William Meredith 1062 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Suicide Note† by Janice Mirikitani, â€Å"The Road Not Taken† by Robert Frost, and â€Å"Dreams of Suicide† by William Meredith are the three poems that connect together in several different ways. Not only do the poems link together, but the authors do as well. This paper will present biographical information about the authors, symbols throughout the poems, and the literary elements the authors chose to use in the poems. It will also explain how the symbols and literary elements that are used help emphasize the

Strategic finance issues Free Essays

string(159) " inventory into sales shows a possible reason for this question arising as the number of days taken to convert inventory into sales has risen in 2013 from 52\." This analysis will financially compare Santos Limiter’s financial performance for the year ending 31st December 2013 with the previous year’s results, by way of ratio analysis. It will also benchmark the latest result with that of Woodside Petroleum for the same period using the same ratio analysis of the 2013 financial statements of each company. A copy of these ratio analysis are attached to this report as appendix 1, which contains a through time comparison for the last two years for Santos Limited ND the across time comparison with Woodside Petroleum for the most recent year. We will write a custom essay sample on Strategic finance issues or any similar topic only for you Order Now As Basely and Hancock (2013 p. 358) depict there are certain factors relevant to selecting an appropriate benchmark. Woodside Petroleum has been selected as the benchmarking company as Woodside also operates in oil and gas production, focusing operations within the Australian area. While Woodside operations are larger than that of Santos, the relative size of these companies is comparable and both follow the accounting policies required by the Corporations Act 2001 , Australian Accounting Standards and other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting standards board. Both companies are listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASS) which provides comparative data for the ratios analyzed and presented in Appendix 1 with the following tables; Table 1 – Profitability ratios Table 2 – Efficiency ratios Table 3 – Short-term solvency ratios Table 4 – Long-term solvency ratios and Table 5 – Market-based ratios A copy of Santos Limiter’s 2013, 2012 and Woodside petroleum ‘s 2013 Annual reports are attached to this report as Appendix 2, Appendix 3 and Appendix 4 especially, for reference to the findings and suggestions outlined in this review. One limitation of the comparison is that Santos Limited reports their financial data in Australian (ALL’S) dollars, while Woodside Petroleum report their financial data in American (US) dollars. This is overcome by using ratios for a majority of comparisons and converting the US dollar amounts into ASS dollars when required. 2. 0 Ratio Analysis To look at the relationship between figures presented in the financial statements, this report uses a ratio analysis technique. To fully understand the ratios developed e will look at them in context of other information provided in various reports and the overall goals of the company. From these ratios the report will then compare these against the benchmark and ultimately identify areas for improvement and, if necessary, change. 2. 1 Profitability. As we can see from Table 1 – Profitability ratios, the net profit margin and the gross profit margin fell 1 . 74% and 4. 26% respectively in 2013. While sales increased 1 1 . 76% for the year, the gross profit margin decreased as previously stated which, was the main driver for the decrease in net profit margin for the year as the interest expense o sales remained consistent. There was a slight drop in return on assets, however asset turnover remained fairly constant, highlighting that the drop in net profit margin is due to the drop in gross profit margin and not a lower turnover of assets. The reduction in gross profit margin is due to the increase in financing costs like depreciation and depletion (up 1. 5% of sales for 2013) and third party product purchases (up 5. 6% of sales). The reduction in financing income also played a major part in pushing down profits. In comparison Woodside has a higher return on assets Han Santos due to the 16. 8% higher profit margin and they turnover assets more efficiently. Also, Santos’ continuing capital growth strategies in projects such as the Papua New Guiana Liquefied Natural Gas (PING LONG) and the Gladstone Liquid Natural Gas (GLEN) transformational projects which are outlined in the 2013 Annual report, are still in the developing phase, therefore not producing to generate sales until the following years. Woodside had a low commitment to capital expenditure for the same financial year and after selling off major capital in 2012 their use of debt as far less (shown as the leverage ratio in Table 4). The return on ordinary shareholder’s equity (ROE) ratio shows the return for the shareholders who supply equity to the business. The ROE is higher for Woodside due to their higher profit margins however, the higher financial leverage ratio in Table 4 will benefit Santos’ shareholders when the return on assets increases compared to the financing costs. This will happen when the above mentioned projects begin production. This is congruent with the statement in a press release by Managing Director (M. D) and Chief Executive Officer (C. E. O) Mr. David Knox on 21st of February 2014. â€Å"In particular, our natural gas reserve and resource base in eastern Australia, combined with our leading infrastructure position, leaves Santos strategically well placed to meet growing market demand,†. 2. 2 Efficiency ratios For the 2013 fiscal year the sales and also the number of debtors increased. The use of efficiency ratios helps determine whether the increase in debtors is due to the increase in sales alone or that it is caused by the debtors taking longer to pay. These ratios show this by providing statistical relations on how effectively Santos Limited is electing its outstanding owing money and converting the inventory into sales. From Table 2 we see that comparing the last two fiscal years for Santos Limited has made improvements in their debt collection practices. The number of days taken to collect debtors accounts has reduce from 78. 71 to 65. 53 days but is still outside Santos Limiter’s standard 30 days for settlement of accounts. The closing balance is showing more debtors accounts being past the 65. 3 day average for 2013 fiscal year. Comparing these figures to Santos’ competitor Woodside, whose debtor recovery is loser to the standard 30 days terms at 31. 63 days. An article in the Sydney Morning Herald depicts that the question has been asked whether there is a gas reservation policy by shareholders, of which Santos Chairman Mr. Board denies. The ratio analysis of days taken to turn inventory into sales shows a possi ble reason for this question arising as the number of days taken to convert inventory into sales has risen in 2013 from 52. You read "Strategic finance issues" in category "Papers" 19 to 53. 62 days. This is only a slight increase and with an expected increase in demand, this slight rise in inventory would be expected to cover n increase in demand. However, when comparing this level to the benchmark, Woodside inventory turnover is far less at 30. 46 days for a higher sales volume. 2. 3 Short-term solvency ratios While the previous ratios focus on performance of the company solvency ratios focus on assisting the company with decisions, short term and long term. Table 3 shows the short-term solvency ratios which assist in the short term decision making. The current ratio is the most basic test as to how liquid a company is. It expresses a company’s ability to meet its short-term liabilities with its short-term assets. A current ratio greater than or equal to one indicates that current assets should be able to satisfy short-term obligations. A ratio less than one indicated an inability to meet short term requirements. The quick ratio calculated for 2013 compared to 2012 shows the company’s ability to pay is has reduced to below the 1:1 ratio, expressing that should the company be required to pay all current debts immediately, they could not do so. Due in part to the reduction in cash levels reducing the current assets from 34. 6% to 20. 3% of net assets. Also increases in the amount of short term interest bearing borrowings increases the current liabilities from 13. 6% of net assets to 16. 9%. With the less cover to pay the increase in short-term liabilities, there is a higher financial risk. When comparing these ratios to that of Woodside, Canton’s short term debt paying ability is carrying greater risks, but comparable with this benchmark. While the quick ratio decline to . 3:1 is cause for concern, the Cash flow from operations to current liabilities ratio shows that 94% of current liabilities can be covered with operational cash flow. Compare this to Woodside, which can easily cover rent liabilities with 141% of its current liabilities covered with operational cash flow. 2. 4 Long-term solvency ratios As the short-term financial risk has previously been expressed, the long term decisions can be assisted by the long- term solvency ratios expressed in Table 4. The debt to equity ratio compares the total liabilities of Santos Limited and compares it to the each dollar of shareholder’s equity. During 2013 Santos’ reliance has risen due to the increased borrowings and interest bearing loans, so for every $1 of shareholder’s equity there is $1. 02 worth of debt obligations. This level of debt is double than that of our benchmark, Woodside Petroleum however, the debt to total asset ratio suggests there is enough assets to cover the debt long term. This might put the company under financial risk and indicate high use of debt compared to shareholder’s equity and a greater financial risk long term. This increases the cost of interest in operation, effecting negatively on profitability. The interest coverage while currently is below the industry benchmark, there is sufficient coverage to ensure interest payment obligations will be met. The amount contributed to the long term room each $1 of operating cash flow has also been significantly reduced, moving further away from the benchmark company. This will increase interest costs long term however, also effecting profit margins. 2. 5 Market-based ratios The price per earnings ratio shown in Table 5 show how much the market would pay for shares of stock of the company per dollar of reported profit. About. Coma’s business finance reporter Rosemary Palaver suggests that the average price to earnings ratio is around 19 with Santos’ ratio higher at 27. 68 and the benchmark, Woodside, ratio marginally lower at 17. 49. Reasons for Santos’ higher than average price per earnings ratio would be due to the potential for Santos increase earnings per share in the foreseeable future and investors are trading accordingly. Other reasons for a high ratio are when companies are in a growth phase, which Santos’ financial statements suggest it currently is not. A high ratio also suggests that the company has financial risk which was expressed in the short-term and long-term solvency ratios. While the market is willing to pay a higher price for investment in shares per dollar Santos reports as profit, the earnings yield assists in evaluating whether returns on investment compensates the risk adequately. The yield of 3. 61% for 2013 is down on sass’s 4. 53% and short of Woodside 5. 72%, which is at a lower risk. Thus, Santos’ shares did not perform to the industry benchmark and shareholders are not getting the yield expected for their investments. Dividends are also low, reflecting the company’s growth positioning for the coming few years. 3. 0 Recommendations The increase in growing demand as expected by Mr. David Knox in a release and the move into production phase of the PING project will generate extra operating ash, primarily with already obtained assets. Therefore the focus moving forward should be reducing the financing costs involved in the cost of goods sold. This will in turn increase profit margins, giving a greater return on assets due to lower interest costs, moving margins closer to that of the benchmark Woodside Petroleum. The rate at which inventory is used to generate sales should be reviewed as it is slightly behind the benchmark. One suggestion to come from these ratio findings is that debtor control needs to be tightened which in turn will improve operations cash flow. Steps have been taken during the last fiscal year to reduce the number of days to collect outstanding debtor accounts, further improvement will also increase operating cash flow which will reduce the financial risk of the company to pay its current liabilities. The inventory level should be reduced to be more comparable to Woodside and increasing the quick assets level used to repay current liabilities. Further to assist in reducing the risk associated with the company’s short-term solvency would be a focus on reducing the current interest-bearing loans and borrowings. 4. Conclusion. Through the usage of ratio analysis this report has analyses Santos Limiter’s financial performance over the last two years and benchmark it against Australia’s largest oil and natural gas producer. There are several other factors influencing position and performance like international economies, competition and major long term growth projects etc. These play a decisive role in the changes in profits, earnings yield and dividend yield. The last two years have seen Santos’ profits and stock performances below industry averages but this is large in part to the investment in growth opportunities, which will begin production in the near future. Some findings and recommendations have been made to improve the financial position of the company so the entity and the shareholders that have invested in it can prosper. Although the companies are in the same field, factors like subsidiary companies or having some different end product can create problem in comparing the companies. The economic condition in the different region and the accounting techniques adopted by these companies while computing ratios and financial tenement also decreases the credibility of the calculation (Charles and Patricia, 1983) 5. 0 References Charles H. Gibson Patricia A. Brush-off. 1983. Z ND Edition. Kent Publishing Company. How to cite Strategic finance issues, Papers

E-Bulletin Board System free essay sample

Chapter 3 Methodologies These Chapters provide, the research described the method of the research used and data gathering procedure, instruments and data processing techniques. Also provide the Technical Background, Theoretical and Conceptual Framework that will be tackling in this chapter. A. Technical Background In this study the main propose of our system is to create a reliable Computer Based Record Remittance System. In which we enhance the searching and updating the remittance of the employees of the Columban College specially the former employees that requesting the record of their remittances.The proposed system will use high level languages Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) for the system programming and for the style will be use Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) and for the records of remittances will be used database (SQL). It can search and update files of the remittances that will serve as the records. The records will be in the database that the administrator can view and can search, add, edit, and update. We will write a custom essay sample on E-Bulletin Board System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The proposed system will use the software Microsoft Windows Apache Server MySQL PHP Pearl (WAMP); this software will be needed to run the system and to be able to use it.The theory given in Figure 1. 1 shows that the use of the process of model also tells us that every function within our company contains key elements that define our processes. The inputs that are needed to perform the process and the process define the step taken to create the output, and the outputs will be the product or services created. This theory help us in our proposed system to determine the functions of our inputs which are the records of the remittances that all data will be process in the way that data entries of all files that they want to store in the database. And the output will be the entered data that is now the new record, and it can use now as the original file in the company. C. Conceptual Framework This conceptual framework becomes the central theme, the focus, the main thrust of the study. It visualizes the idea of the proposed system that can access by the administrator. Figure 2. 0 Conceptual Framework The flow of the Figure 2. 0 uses a high level language Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) for the application programming and therefore the information source (Database, Searching, Adding, Editing, Updating, and Deleting). The data collected provided significant and necessary results and conclusions, and possible solutions to unpredictable problems that may arise. The appropriately selected instruments employed were the questionnaire, and the technique applied was the observation method. Observation This method is vital in gathering facts that will support the study in a way which promotes the validity of the data gathered. This technique was adapted because instances often arise and may not be avoided when certain data is not adequately and credibly secured through the use of questionnaire and except through observation.

Marbury V. Madison Trial Essays - , Term Papers

Marbury V. Madison Trial Marbury v. Madison The issue before the Supreme Court was the question of the court's own constitutional authority, and to decide whether or not to issue the writ and if this would make the court seem weak. The facts of the case that were presented in the court was that this particular case was, in fact, being thrown before the Supreme court, and there was an argument as to whether or no the court real had the jurisdiction to decide this case at all. The result of this case was that the Supreme Court decided to entitle Marbury his court order. It was the first time the Court openly declared an act of Congress unconstitutional. The Court ruled that Congress exceeded its power in the Judiciary Act of 1789 and it established its power to review acts of Congress and declare invalid those it found in conflict with the Constitution. I actually think that the framers of the constitution would have consented to the idea of the Court to have this power of Judicial Review, because it works out quite well for the system of checks and balances because without it Congress would almost have too much power and I am sure the framers wouldn't have accepted that. If the decision had not have validated the idea that the Supreme court had the power of Judicial Review, then Americans would have been a little concerned about the competency of the Court and would have thought that it was acting outside it's jurisdiction. Justice Marshall stated that the power to decide this case did not come from the constitution, but from an act of Congress. The Supreme Court further more had original powers that extended beyond the constitution, so, in this case, it had the right to pass judgment. The point of this was in case the Court had to decide, without Congress, if certain cases had to be decided in Court and not in Congress to allow the Supreme Court to go above Congress's head to make an Important decision, and see for itself if the decision of Congress was deemed unconstitutional and if it should be decided in court. Economics Essays

Database Management Systems in Charities

Database Management Systems in Charities Introduction Background information The modern world has become smaller and people are becoming more responsible. This trend is manifested through appearance of numerous non-profit organisations that help underprivileged people or simply people in need. At the same time, not-for-profit organisations often fail to achieve their goals and operate ineffectively due to the use of inefficient database management systems.Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Database Management Systems in Charities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Modern organisations have to handle significant amount of information including data on operations, accounting, human resources, customer support and so on. It is noteworthy that churches are now seen as organisations that also need proper information management (Carlson Lueken 2013; Hegstad 2013). Clearly, numerous database management systems have been utilised by for-profit companies and there a re quite many efficient systems. However, not all of them can be used by charities. For instance, these organisations need specific software for such operations as donation management. Notably, IT companies provide numerous products to meet these organisations’ needs (Kensington Temple manages donations n.d.; Church management software 2014). IT companies are developing database management systems for nonprofit organisations that address other issues as well. It is possible to identify most widespread systems employed by charities. Top three systems are Blackbaud, Network for Good and FirstGiving (Top non-profit software 2014). It is noteworthy that 81% of reporting non-profit organisations accept online donations and this increases the need in a comprehensive and reliable data management system (2014 state of the not-for-profit industry 2014). UK nonprofit organisations as well as churches have already acknowledged benefits of the use of efficient database management systems and utilisation of such a system is seen as an advantage and a sign of effectiveness as well as transparency of the organisation (The Methodist Church in Britain 2014).Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are numerous guidelines on the use of these systems for charities and churches (Kuschewsky 2014; Protecting data, protecting people 2013; Keep or bin? 2009). This also suggests that increased attention towards the issue exists in the society and among non-profit organisations. Purpose of the Study This research aims at identifying major issues not-for-profit organisations and churches in UK face when using database management systems and effective solutions to handle the problems. The research will cover such major areas as donations management, volunteer management, HR management, safety, transparency and compliance with standards. Such issue as employee tr aining will also be touched upon. The present study will explore latest advances in this field through analysis of resources available on the matter. It is also important to understand how charities’ employees see database management systems. It is necessary to learn whether they find these systems helpful, efficient and easy to use. Furthermore, it is important to understand whether employees can utilise the systems and whether there is sufficient training. Finally, the study will also cover strategies used by employees to handle issues they face while using data management systems. All this information will provide insights into advantages and shortcomings of database management systems used and will help outline areas of improvement. Literature Review Researchers stress that effective information management enables companies to remain competitive (Botten 2007; Light 2004). When it comes to charities, these organisations often face more issues as some of tools employed by f or-profit companies is inapplicable. Hackler and Saxton (2007) explore issues non-profit organisations face by analysing literature existing on the matter and they conclude that charities have to enhance their capacities in such spheres of IT planning as budgeting, support, staffing, Internet capabilities, training and so on. Researchers stress that charities have to invest into efficient database management systems to be able to manage information effectively (Campbell 2009; Dutton 2013). Poister (2008) believes that performance of non-profit organisations depends on the choice of the database management system (which also has to be assessed in terms of its performance).Advertising We will write a custom proposal sample on Database Management Systems in Charities specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Not-for-profit organisations tend to utilise systems employed by other (for-profit) companies as well as systems developed for charities. C alabrese (2011) provides a brief account of existing database management systems that are often used in not-for-profit organisations. It has been acknowledged that some database systems are not appropriate for charities (The non-profit marketplace 2008). Thus, Voida, Harmon and Al-Ani (2011) focus on challenges non-profit organisations face when it comes to volunteer management and coordination. It has been acknowledged that churches are also organisations that need effective information management and specific needs of these organisations have been addressed (Cappel 2002; Wrenn 2013). Pynes (2009) reveals peculiarities of human resources management in organisations (including charities) and provides helpful insights into the use of database management systems addressing this part of any organisation’s operations. It is noteworthy that there is significant bulk of literature on different types of database management system. For instance, Buttle (2008) provides a detailed acco unt of different types of database management systems that can be used in numerous settings. It is noteworthy that researchers focus on flexibility that is important for charities. For instance, Kumar et al. (2012) develop a system that is flexible and able to address the needs of a charity organisation. DeBrabant et al. (2013) introduce a new approach to database management systems and a new architecture. Clearly, data safety is another concern of any organisation and charities are no exception. Thus, all stakeholders (non-profits’ employees, donators, and so on) have to be protected and this is one of central factors to pay attention to when choosing the right database management system (Parsons Oja 2008; Hingarh Ahmed 2013; Stair Reynolds 2013). Hasan (2009) reveals effective solutions for protecting data in regulatory-compliant and provenance databases.Advertising Looking for proposal on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Apart from this, researchers note that there is need in transparency and efficient database management systems can enable charities and churches address this need (Study on recent public and self-regulatory initiative 2009; Chasteen Lampkin 2012). Hence, Behn, DeVries and Lin (2010) research determinants of transparency in charities and note that the organisation’s size, contribution ratio and compensation expense ratio are factors that affect charities’ readiness to share information. Brody (2012) stresses that donators, officials, volunteers and the rest of the society expect more transparency on the part of non-profit organisations. Another important issue addressed by researchers is these organisations’ compliance with certain standards. Sloan (2008) stresses that these organisations’ compliance with standards is meaningful for donators and it may shape the way donators see nonprofits. Moutchnik (2008) analyses the recent trend associated with the us e of ISO standards by churches and argues that it enhances these organisations’ accountability. Methodology Qualitative Method As has been mentioned above, the purpose of this research is to identify issues related to the use of database management systems non-profit organisations face and ways they try to handle the problems. Therefore, it is important to identify systems used, problems that occur, strategies employed to handle the issues and success stories. Neergaard and Ulhoi (2007) note that it is beneficial to use combined research methods in entrepreneurship. The present paper will be based on qualitative research method. Alvesson and Skoldberg (2009) note that phenomenological approach can be used to determine existing knowledge on a phenomenon. Since the present study aims at identifying certain phenomenon, it is possible to use this approach. The phenomenological research implies analysis of existing literature on certain phenomenon and developing ties between the e xisting literature and particular processes taking place in the society. Data collection and analysis: literature analysis Therefore, the present study will involve analysis of literature available on the matter and a survey including a number of interviews. Literature review will include analysis of articles from peer reviewed journals, books, newspaper articles. Websites and reports of certain charities will also be examined. These reports will help determine attention paid by the organisation to the data management system (The church of Scotland 2013; Charitylog 2013). Forty resources will be included in the analysis. Grounded theory will be used to analyse the literature available. Maxwell (2012) stresses that this is the most appropriate approach for literature analysis as it enables to explain and extend the scope of the field. Major areas of concern will be identified. As has been mentioned above specific attention will be paid to donations, human resources, volunteer managem ent, data protection and transparency. This analysis will affect development of questionnaires for the survey and interviews. Major concerns revealed in the literature will be included in the questionnaires. Data collection and analysis: survey and interviews The survey will be held with the help of the Internet. Questionnaires developed on the basis of the literature analysis will be sent via emails to employees of noprofit organisations (including local churches). Participants will be managers (of different levels) working in charity organisations for more than a month. They will be selected randomly. Prior to this heads of non-profit organisations will be addressed to obtain their consent. Since this is a qualitative research, major attention will be paid to participants answers though the questionnaires will include participants’ personal data (which can be used for further research) It is planned to process around forty questionnaires containing questions on database man agement systems used, issues occurring and approaches to handle problems. The questionnaires will include close as well as open questions and participants will be able to provide detailed answers. Grounded theory will be employed to analyse questionnaires as well as data obtained during the interviews. Again, major attention will be paid to areas mentioned above. At that, specific attention will be paid to strategies employees exploit to handle issues that occur. The questionnaire will include 25 questions and participants will be given sufficient time to complete them. They will send completed questionnaires via email. The final stage of the research will include interviews with ten managers. The interviewees will be chosen based on the answers in their questionnaires. Apart from revealing issues employees face, the research aims at identifying effective solutions used to address these issues. Therefore, the most effective (or unusual strategies) reported by employees in their ques tionnaires will get most attention. Participants generating such solutions will be invited to the interview. The interviews will be held in quasi-relaxed setting: either in the workplace (for example, meeting room) or in the park. The interviews will be recorded. The questions asked at the interview will be developed on the basis of the survey results. The major aim of the interviews is to elicit interviewees’ attitude towards database management system and the way they handle issues. Grounded theory will be used to analyse the data collected during the interviews. Clearly, written consent will be obtained from all participants who will be notified about the purpose of the research. Conclusion In conclusion, the research will identify issues associated with the use of database management systems in charities as well as churches and effective ways to handle these problems. The study is based on qualitative research method and the data obtained will help elicit employeesâ€℠¢ attitude towards the use of a data management system. Apart from qualitative analysis of data, some recommendations to managers of not-for-profit organisations will be provided. This study will expand the scope of knowledge on the matter. It will also reveal issues existing in the field. Admittedly, the present research has a number of limitations. For instance, the number of participants is quite limited. More so, organisations and churches located in the UK are researched. Hence, the study will be limited geographically. Though the research may be statistically insignificant, it will unveil major issues existing in the field. It is possible to assume that the present study is the first step in the process of identification of issues associated with the use of database management systems. Further research may cover larger territories and more participants. Reference List 2014 state of the not-for-profit industry: survey summary report 2014, https://www.blackbaud.co.uk/files/bbe/S ONI/SONI_UKReport2014.pdf?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRomrfCcI63Em2iQPJWpsrB0B%2FDC18kX3RUmJL2Zfkz6htBZF5s8TM3DUVdDXr1Z6kEJSbE%3D. Alvesson, M Skoldberg, K 2009, Reflexive methodology: new vistas for qualitative research, SAGE, London. Behn, BK, DeVries, DD Lin, J 2010, The determinants of transparency in non-profit organisations: an exploratory study, Advances in Accounting, Incorporating Advances in International Accounting, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 6-12. Botten, N 2007, CIMA official learning system management accounting business strategy, Butterworth-Heinemann, Burlington, MA. Brody, E 2012, Sunshine and shadows on charity governance: public disclosure as a regulatory tool, Florida Tax Review, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 175-206. Buttle, F 2008, Customer relationship management: concepts and technologies, Routledge, Oxford. Carlson, K Lueken, M 2013, Renovation of the church: what happens when a seeker church discovers spiritual formation, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL. Calabrese, T 2011, Running on empty: the operating reserves of US non-profit organisations, baruch.cuny.edu/spa/centers-and-institutes/center-for-nonprofit-strategy-and-management/documents/Calabrese_RunningonEmpty-TheOperatingReservesofUSNonprofitOrganizations.pdf. Campbell, P 2006, How to decide: IT planning and prioritizing, in H Ross, K Verclass A Levine (eds), Managing technology to meet your mission: a strategic guide for non-profit leaders, John Wiley Sons, San Francisco, CA, pp. 79-101. Cappel, JJ 2002, A systems analysis and design case: ABC church, Journal of Information Systems Education, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 233-243. Charitylog 2013, charitylog.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Brochure-2013-v2.3.pdf. Chasteen, CS Lampkin, LM 2012, Improved transperancy for charity executive pay: a review of form 990 data, erieri.com/pdf/CharityExecutivePay.pdf. Church management software 2014, activenetwork.com/church-management-software . DeBrabant, J, Pavlo, A, Tu, S, Stonebraker, M Zdonik, S 2013, Anti-caching: a new approach to database management system architecture, Proceedings of the VLDB Endowment, vol. 6, no. 14, pp. 1942-1953. Dutton, WH 2013, The Oxford handbook of Internet studies, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Hackler, D Saxton, GD 2007, ‘The strategic use of information technology by nonprofit organizations: increasing capacity and untapped potential’, Public Administration Review, vol. 67, no. 3, pp. 474-487. Hasan, R 2009, Protecting the past and present data, with applications in provenance and regulatory-compliant databases, http://wcms.inf.ed.ac.uk/idar09/papers-and-abstracts/idar09-submission-4.pdf. Hegstad, H 2013, The real church: an ecclesiology of the visible, Casemate Publishers, Cambridge, UK. Hingarh, V Ahmed, A 2013, Understanding and conducting information systems auditing + websites, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken, NJ. Keep or bin? The care of your parish records 2009, lambethpalacelibrary.org/files/Parish_Records_0.pdf. Kensington Temp le manages donations more efficiently with DK software n.d., dk-bs.co.uk/Portals/8/PDFs/dkSoftware-KT-case%20study-2.pdf. Kumar, BK, Prasad, SD, Manohar, PM, Prakash, KVVSS, Chiranjeevi, M Kiran, KV 2012, Database management system and information retrival, International Journal of Computer Science and Information Technologies, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 3632-3637. Kuschewsky, M 2014, Big data analysis is possible without infringing key privacy principles, says international working group, The National Law Review, natlawreview.com/article/big-data-analysis-possible-without-infringing-key-privacy-principles-says-internatio. Light, PC 2004, Sustaining non-profit performance: the case for capacity building and the evidence to support it, Brookings Institution Press, Washington, DC. Maxwell, JA 2012, Qualitative research design: an interactive approach, SAGE, London. Moutchnik, A 2008, Churches embrace ISO management system standards, ISO Management Systems, pp. 1-19. Neergaard, H Ulhoi, JP 2 007, Handbook of qualitative research methods in entrepreneurship, Edward Elgar Publishing, Northampton, MA. Parsons, JJ Oja, D 2008, New perspectives on computer concepts 2010: comprehensive, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA. Poister, TH 2008, Measuring performance in public and non-profit organisations, John Wiley Sons, San Francisco, CA. Protecting data, protecting people: a guide for charities 2013, cfg.org.uk/resources/Publications/~/media/Files/Resources/CFDG%20Publications/Data_Protection2013.ashx. Pynes, JE 2009, Human resources management: for public and non-profit organisations, John Wiley Sons, San Francisco, CA. Sloan, MF 2008, The effects of non-profit accountability ratings on donor behaviour, Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, vol. 20, no. 10, pp. 1-17. Stair, R Reynolds, G 2013, Principles of information systems, Cengage Learning, Boston, MA. Study on recent public and self-regulatory initiatives improving transparency and accountability of non-profit organis ations in the European Union 2009, http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/doc_centre/terrorism/docs/initiatives_improving_transparency_accountability_npos_avr09.pdf. The church of Scotland 2013, churchofscotland.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/14419/unincorporated_report_and_accounts.pdf. The Methodist Church in Britain 2014, theaccessgroup.com/media/2166838/methodistcs.pdf. The non-profit marketplace bridging the information gap 2008, hewlett.org/uploads/files/whitepaper.pdf. Top non-profit software 2014, capterra.com/fundraising-software/#infographic. Voida, A, Harmon, E Al-Ani, B 2011, Homebrew databases: complexities of everyday information management in non-profit organisations, CHI, http://ellieharmon.com/docs/VoidaHarmonAlAni-Homebrew-CHI2011.pdf. Wrenn, T 2013, Innovative planning: your church in 4-D, Chalice Press, Danvers, MA.

Whats Tested on the SAT Math Section Topics and Practice

What's Tested on the SAT Math Section Topics and Practice SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Your first step in preparing for the math section of the SAT should be familiarizing yourself with exactly what’s on it. Whatever math class you’re taking in school, you should be able to conquer the SAT math topics with the right approach to test prep. Let’s start this guide by reviewing the overall format of the math section of the SAT. SAT Math Format Math will be your third and fourth sections on the SAT, right after Reading and Writing Language. You’ll first get a 25-minute section, during which you can’t use a calculator. After a short break, you’ll move onto the 55-minute section. During this longer section, you’re allowed to use your calculator. Both sections will begin with multiple-choice questions, each of which will feature four answer choices. Then you’ll be asked for some student-produced responses, more commonly known as "grid-ins." On the calculator section, some of these grid-ins will relate to one another as part of an Extended Thinking question. // Here’s the breakdown of time, number of questions, and question types on the two SAT math sections. Section Number of Questions Time No calculator 15 multiple choice, 5 grid-ins 25 minutes Calculator 30 multiple choice, 8 grid-ins (including one Extended Thinking question) 55 minutes Total 58 questions 80 minutes While you can only use a calculator on the longer Math section, you’ll have access to the following reference information for geometry in both sections: Of course, you’d be better off having this information memorized than wasting time flipping back in your test booklet to these formulas. This material isn’t actually all that important on the math section, as geometry problems make up less than 10% of the questions. That being said, what skills and concepts are most prevalent in the math section? Content is king! Or, at least, it's very important to master before you take the SAT. SAT Math Topics // While the math section doesn’t place a large emphasis on geometry problems, it does focus on algebra, solving equations, and data interpretation from tables and graphs. College Board sorts the question types into three main categories: Heart of Algebra, Passport to Advanced Math, and Problem Solving and Data Analysis (they apparently gave up on the creative naming once they reached the third category). These three realms describe about 90% of the SAT math questions. The remaining 10% are simply called Additional Topics, and they mainly include geometry, basic trigonometry, and complex numbers. Let’s take a closer look at each of these categories by going over the SAT math topics and skills they test. After a description of each one, you’ll see three official sample practice questions from College Board. Heart of Algebra SAT math questions in the Heart of Algebra category have to do with linear equations, inequalities, functions, and graphs. Below are the official topics as defined by College Board, followed by a summary of tasks you’ll need to be prepared for to tackle these questions and some example problems. // Official Topics Solving linear equations and linear inequalities (in these expressions, x is a constant or the product of a constant) Interpreting linear functions Linear inequality and equation word problems Graphing linear equations Linear function word problems Systems of linear inequalities word problems Solving systems of linear equations Summary of Tasks // Use multiple steps to simplify an expression or equation or solve for a variable. Solve for a variable within functions or systems of inequalities with two variables (usually x and y). Determine whether a given point is in a solution set or what value would make an expression have no solution. Select a graph that shows an algebraic equation, or, on the flip side, choose the equation that describes a graph. Indicate how a graph would be affected by a given change in its equation. Sample Questions Solving systems of linear equations: Solving systems of linear inequalities: Graphing a linear equation: Grab your passport- we're crossing the border into the land of advanced math. // Passport to Advanced Math While Heart of Algebra questions are focused on linear equations, Passport to Advanced Math questions have to do with nonlinear expressions, or expressions in which a variable is raised to an exponent that’s not zero or one. These questions will ask you to work with quadratic equations, exponential expressions, and word problems. Read on for the full list of topics that fall under Passport to Advanced Math, followed by a summary of tasks and three sample SAT questions. Official Topics Solving quadratic equations Interpreting nonlinear expressions Quadratic and exponential word problems Radicals and rational exponents Operations with rational expressions and polynomials Polynomial factors and graphs Nonlinear equation graphs Linear and quadratic systems Structure in expressions Isolating quantities Functions // Summary of Tasks Solve equations by factoring or using other methods to rewrite them in another form. Add, subtract, multiply, or divide two rational expressions or divide two polynomial expressions and simplify your results. Select a graph that matches a nonlinear equation or an equation that corresponds to a graph. Determine the equation of a curve from a description of a graph. Figure out how a graph would change if its equation changed. Sample Questions Functions: Nonlinear expressions: // Nonlinear equation graphs: Problem Solving and Data Analysis This third and final major category includes questions that ask you to work with rates, ratios, percentages, and data from graphs and tables. Read on for the official topics, a summary of tasks, and three sample questions. Official Topics Ratios, rates, and proportions Percents Units Table data Scatterplots Key features of graphs Linear and exponential growth Data inferences Center, spread, and shape of distributions Data collection and conclusions // Summary of Tasks Solve multi-step problems to calculate ratio, rate, percentage, unit rate, or density. Use a given ratio, rate, percentage, unit rate, or density to solve a multistep problem. Select an equation that best fits a scatterplot. Use tables to summarize data, such as probabilities. Estimate populations based on sample data. Use statistics to determine mean, median, mode, range, and/or standard deviation. Evaluate tables, graphs, or text summaries. Determine the accuracy of a data collection method. // Sample Questions Calculating data based on rate: Scatterplot and calculating rate: Calculating percentage based on table data: These next few categories don't quite fit anywhere else. Additional Topics in Math While 90% of your questions will fall into the Heart of Algebra, Passport to Advanced Math, or Problem Solving and Data Analysis categories, the remaining 10% will simply be classified as Additional Topics. These topics include geometry, trigonometry, and problems with complex numbers. Official Topics // Volume word problems Right triangle word problems Congruence and similarity Right triangle geometry Angles, arc lengths, and trig functions Circle theorems Circle equations Complex numbers Summary of Tasks // Determine volume of a shape. Apply properties of triangles to determine side length or angle measure. Apply properties of circles to measure arc length and area. Solve problems with sine, cosine, and tangent. Sample Questions Right triangle problem with trigonometric functions: Congruence and similarity: Angles and parallel lines: To truly prepare for the math section of the SAT, you should make sure to review all of the above mentioned topics. Some problems, furthermore, will integrate topics and require you to apply multiple skills and concepts as you work toward a solution. Multi-step problems are prevalent throughout the math section. Let’s take a closer look at multi-step problems, along with the other main features you need to be aware of as you prep for SAT Math. // Grab your snacks and turn off your cell phone- it's time for the main feature(s)! What Are the Key Features of SAT Math? In addition to understanding content and format of the SAT Math section, there are some key features you should know about. As you study, keep an eye out for these features. By familiarizing yourself with them, you may even be able to use practice materials for the old SAT effectively to prepare for the current SAT. Multi-Step Problems You may notice that several of the above problem types state that they require multiple steps to solve. While wording of math questions should be straightforward, the thinking and calculations required will be relatively involved. To prepare, you'll especially want to focus on time management and working quickly and efficiently. // To solve a word problem, you may have to combine skills from one more than one content area or use several steps to get to your answer. Word problems may present a long scenario, and you’ll need to figure out what data to use and what concepts to apply to get to your answer. Speaking of word problems... Emphasis on â€Å"Real World† Applications According to College Board, much of its purpose behind redesigning the SAT was to make the test more closely aligned with classroom learning and real world skills. As a result, the math section won’t feature too many abstract reasoning questions. Instead, the word problems will be grounded in realistic situations. Some may ask you to calculate gas left in a car’s gas tank or the conversion of money from one country’s currency to another. Most word problems will present scenarios that you might encounter in your life. // There will be a few questions that test your understanding of sines. Also, cosines and tangents. A Few Geometry and Trigonometry Questions About 10% of the questions will feature geometry and/or trigonometry. Since not everyone has studied trigonometry in school by the time they take the SAT, these questions may call for separate, SAT-specific preparation. You should acquaint yourself with the relevant concepts and formulas, but focus most of your energies on preparing for algebra, functions, inequalities, graphs, and word problems. A No-Calculator Section and a Calculator Section For 25 minutes, you won’t be able to bring out your calculator to answer any of the math questions. There’s no need to worry! The problems in the 25-minute section won’t require a calculator; in fact, using one on those problems would probably just slow you down. // Calculator fluency, or knowing how and when to use your calculator effectively, is an important skill on the SAT math. The College Board says, â€Å"Calculators are important tools, and...you’ll need to know how - and when - to use them...The calculator is, like any tool, only as smart as the person using it. The Math Test includes some questions where it’s better not to use a calculator, even though you’re allowed to.† So you definitely won’t need one on the shorter â€Å"no calculator† section, and you may not even need one on many of the problems in the longer â€Å"calculator† section. Answering lots of practice questions can help you get better at deciding when a calculator would be helpful and when it would just slow you down. An Extended Thinking Problem A few of your questions will be part of an Extended Thinking problem. Typically, this Extended Thinking problem will be part of the grid-in questions near the end of your 55-minute section. // Basically, you’ll get a graph, table, or word problem scenario and then have to answer multiple questions about it. The following is one example of a word problem-based Extended Thinking question. Notice the bent toward â€Å"real world† application! Grid-in Math Questions Speaking of grid-ins, you'll have thirteen of these student-produced responses that you'll answer in a special part of the bubble sheet at the bottom. While you can write your answer in the spaces provided, you'll have to fill in the corresponding bubbles for credit. There are bubbles for digits between 0 and 9, as well as for decimal point (a period) and fraction line (a slash). To practice gridding in your responses, you can practice on College Board's SAT practice test answer sheet. As long as you're familiar with the key features and directions of SAT Math, you can hit the ground running and not waste time figuring out logistics. So whether you're prepping with PrepScholar, online practice questions, official College Board tests, or a combination of all of these, how should you approach prepping for SAT Math? // Unleash the power of prep. How You Should Study SAT Math Many of the concepts on SAT Math you'll learn in your math classes in school. This doesn't mean that classwork will prepare you enough to perform well on the SAT, though. SAT Math questions test the above concepts in a unique, SAT-specific way. In order to prepare and learn to be speedy in your time management, you'll want to practice and get familiar with the wording with high-quality practice questions. Official practice tests will also help you uncover and diagnose your strengths and weaknesses. If you find yourself consistently stumped by function questions, for example, you'll know to focus your energy and studying there. Even if you haven't taken an advanced algebra or trigonometry class yet in school, you can still prep for these questions by studying SAT concepts and questions. If you're strong in math and looking to achieve a top score, you want to approach the math section in a strategic way. This perfect scorer shares the techniques he used and how they can help you score at or near 800 on your SAT math. What's Next? // Are you scoring on the low side on math and hoping to break 600? Here are the steps you need to take to score a 600 or more on the SAT math. Looking for book recommendations specific to the math section? Here are our suggestions for the best prep books for SAT Math, along with a few pointers on how to use them most effectively. Want to make sure you're solid on math basics before diving into SAT Math? Check out our refresher articles on solving inequalities, adding and subtracting fractions, multiplication, perfect squares, and the distributive property. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep classes. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our classes are entirely online, and they're taught by SAT experts. If you liked this article, you'll love our classes. Along with expert-led classes, you'll get personalized homework with thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step, custom program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Try it risk-free today:

Aging aircraft wiring problems and solutions Essay

Aging aircraft wiring problems and solutions - Essay Example Aging aircraft wiring has been a cause of significant threat to both invaluable human life and material. It is almost certain that a smart wiring alone will not be the solution to this problem considering the working conditions of an aircraft. Keeping this scenario in mind this paper is trying to consider a few of the most pressing safety problems in aviation today. The NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) later determined the cause of the TWA 800 accident to have been a wiring failure that led to an ignition spark in the fuel tank. The Swissair disaster is believed to have been caused by electrical arcing originating from an in-flight entertainment cable. These disasters provided the initial impetus to begin reshaping commercial wiring policies' (Kevin R. Wheeler and Dogan A. Timucin 2007).A TWA747, flight 800, heading for Paris and Rome with 230 from JFK international airport on the night of July 17, 1996, exploded shortly after take off and during initial climb out. The hug e aircraft was blown up killing all the passengers and crew aboard. One of the most extensive aircraft investigations in the history was initiated following the crash. After many findings the initial fear of a terrorist missile attack was vanished. Enormous efforts were vested on the recovery process along with the FBI and NTSB investigations. The search was supported by FAA, US Navy Boeing and hundreds of contractors. Finally, the remains of the aircraft were recovered from Atlantic. To the continuing frustration of conspiracy theorists, investigators determined that the aircraft was not downed by a bomb or missile, but rather fell victim to a much more insidious enemy - faulty wiring. Hot or chafed wire is believed to have ignited the fuel vapors in the empty center wing tank, creating a massive explosion and in-flight breakup of the aircraft. The similar incidents occurred in the aviation industry at regular intervals. Obviously the wire and connector fault detection and prognosis problem is difficult and each agency is doing the best that it can with the resources given (J.S. Barrett and M.A. Green 1994). Thus, developing the appropriate theoretical approach, using simulations and data collection for development and eventually leading to requirements definition for all aspects of the wiring fault detection problem seem to be a huge task. The terrific crashes remind us that the aircraft electrical system malfunctioning can lead to tragic eventualities in terms of human life and monetary loss. Wiring problems often lead to troubleshooting nightmares, and canceled missions. With miles of wire bundles running through barely accessible compartments, inspecting and repairing wiring problems can eat up your maintenance budget and resources in a very short time. To help maintenance managers address these types of issues, we investigated the tools and techniques that can be used to minimize down time and improve safety. Jim sparks (2004) felt that 'wiring in aircraft has been installed without much thought given to the overall life. The concept has been one of "fit and forget." Various failure modes and their severity may not have been considered during the design or modification process. Maintenance programs often did not address the impact of insulation breakdown and resulting arcing, nor was consideration given to the probability of splices

Risk And Information Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Risk And Information - Assignment Example After critical analysis using the expected value criterion method, it was evident that project Y (8000) was best suited to increase the revenues as compared to project X (6000). The expected return of project Y is greater than that of project X. It was therefore decided that the club should invest the cash on starting a bookshop business because it tends to benefit the club more in terms of revenue increase. I am a risk lover, that’s why I’ll opt for option Y which has high risk (high probabilities) but high returns. Risk preference-the risk preference of an individual can cause the change in the probabilities. Risk averse individuals will always prefer low probabilities (low risk but low returns) when making decisions while risk loving individuals will go for high probabilities (high risk but high returns). Therefore, if an individual change his/her risk preferences the probabilities will change. Risk premium- this is the difference between the expected value of returns and the sure thing such that the decision maker is indifferent between the returns and the sure thing. The higher the variance of the returns the larger the risk premium hence the higher the

Educators and their Perception on Children Essay Example for Free

Educators and their Perception on Children Essay Studies reveal that there has been an increasing degree of childhood challenging behavior. On a survey made by Joseph et al (2003) as cited from Strain and Joseph (2004) revealed that 73% of educators perceived that children with challenging behaviors has been increasing. More importantly, educators have also been affected by such an increase of challenging behaviors as 70% of them claimed that children with such make them feel stressed, while 60% said that it has a negative effect on their job satisfaction. Since challenging behavior has been increasing at present, such also has a negative effect on teacher turnovers. In relation with it, it has also been viewed that such a character of children has a significant relationship to the educators burn out and amount of complaints that they receive from the parents. In consequence, the schools upper administration, tend to squeeze their budgets for a more costly approach and on the other hand, educators are being questioned of their efficiency. During the 1960s educators believed that the source of difficulties in their class primarily emerges from children with problem behaviors. As such, they tend to see them as bad apples that could be removed in order to maintain a more favorable environment (Long et al, 1965) as cited from Strain and Joseph (2004). In fact studies of Joseph et al on 2003 revealed that 40% of educators reveal that they have removed students from their class for the past 12 months. Another problem that the educators experience is that they take the approach to children with challenging behavior as evident on their expression of frustration, anger, inadequacy, fear, guilt and stress (Strain and Joseph, 2004). In addition with this, respondents also reveal that they felt overwhelmed, undervalued and disrespected (Strain and Joseph, 2004). These feelings are clear indications that there are problems that the teacher needs to address. The educator needs to cope with these kinds of feelings in order to provide more self-control and rational thinking to be able to effectively address their students challenging behavior. Odom et al (1990) as cited from Strain and Joseph (2004) also found out that a teachers openness to adopt a new approach towards teaching children could also affect the rate in which children could go through with the problems that he or she is experiencing. It has also been perceived that the amount of work that the teachers have to handle could also impact how the way the handle children with challenging behavior. For teachers who have a lot of priorities and paperwork, to ask them to do one more thing further adds to their frustration. Teachers also argue that they don’t have enough training in order to deal with this type of children. These situations in addition to their relatively low wages are also determining factors of their negative attitude towards children with challenging behavior.

Soy Protein: Can It Really Prevent Cancer? Essay -- Research Biology E

Soy Protein: Can It Really Prevent Cancer? Society possesses a natural fear of the disease cancer. Even though this term is common, uncertainty surrounds its meaning. What exactly is cancer? A simple definition for a complicated disease is this: abnormal cell growth. Cancer can develop in just about any part of the body, and as abnormal cells grow, they crowd and destroy healthy tissue. This disease is not infectious, for if it were, a vaccination would have probably been developed by now. However, extensive research is continuously being conducted to find a cure or more effective treatments for this mysterious disease. "Evidence shows that lifestyles and diet are mostly responsible for the different cancer rates around the world." The following information discusses possible cancer prevention by the consumption of soy products. Again, a familiarity with the studied term is necessary. What is soy? "Soy" comes from soybean, a legume which is native to Northern China. It is often called a complete protein. This is because it is the most complete protein source from vegetables and is as good as animal protein in meat products. Soy protein, which has been stated to be of "highest caliber," contains many essential nutrients. It has been stated that populations who regularly include soy protein in their diets and reduce meat intake are generally healthier in that their risks for certain diseases are reduced. These include cancer, especially breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. The basic assumption that has been made about soy is that its consumption as a dietary staple reduces the risk of a variety of cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. A relat... ... Works Cited Barnes, S., et al. "Soy Isoflavonoids and Cancer Prevention." Advances in Experimental Medicine & Biology 401. (1996): 87-100. Barnes, Stephen. "Anticancer Effects of Genistein." The Journal of Nutrition 125 (1995): 777S-783S. Bergan, R., et al. "Genistein-stimulated Adherence of Prostate Cancer Cells Is Associated with the Binding of Focal Adhesion Kinase to Beta-1-integrin." Clinical & Experimental Mestastasis 14(4) (1996 Sept.): 389-398. Messina, M. J., et al. "Soy Intake and Cancer Risk: A Review of the In Vitro and in Vivo Data." Nutrition & Cancer 21(2) (1994): 113-131. Steele, Vernon E., et al. "Nonisoflavone Soybean Anticarcinogens." The Journal of Nutrition 125 (1995) 713S-716S.

Are Electro-Acoustics and the Vernacular the Largets Developments in 20th Century Music?

EAMMON MSETFI Contextual studies (MU314) Convenor: Tim Howle Essay 1 Denis Smalley has suggested that the two most important musical developments in the 20th Century are the domains of the ‘electro-acoustic' and the ‘vernacular'. To what extent is his assumption correct? This piece will demonstrate an understanding of the developments in 20th century music, with a detailed view on the path and expansion of electro-acoustic technology and of the vernacular. This will also be highlighting the theoretical ideas that made these large developments possible and the technological innovations that created the foundations for both these areas.Total serialism After composers, Wagner and Brahms, who stretched the boundaries of tonality to breaking point (Wagner notably in, Tristan & Isolde, 1857), composers wanted to experiment with new ideas. Schoenberg was the first composer to approach composition with a completely new approach, not with typical tonality but with a ‘serial method’; this was later known as ‘12 tone’ music (all 12 tones of the chromatic scale are arranged in a fixed sequence know as a ‘tone row’, all 12 tones must be used in order for the piece to progress).Webern was soon to follow Schoenberg and became a pupil of his; he soon adopted his 12-tone method and found his own individuality within the domain. For Webern this meant a focused contrapuntal style in which every element formed complex connections, with every tone having an equal importance. Although Schoenberg consciously created the method, his connection with the tonal world was never cut. On the contrary, Webern gazed openly into the future. Early Webern pieces (prior 12-tone) it is clearly apparent the influence of Schoenberg, notably Op10 (1911-1913), where he xploited his mentors use of klangfarbenmelodie (tone-colour melody), which involved splitting a melody between multiple instruments, rather than allocating it to just one instrument, as a result, adding colour (timbre) and texture to the melodic line; the use of this method can also be seen in, Five piece string quartet (1909), The four pieces for violin & piano (1910) and The six bagatelles for string quartet (1911-1913). Schoenberg created ‘12 tone’ to control pitch, Webern extended the method to determine, dynamics, tone colour and rhythm; this was later entitled ‘total serialism’.As an alternative of using notes to generate a melody, he used them to create a colour. Webern’s melodic lines are atomized into two or three note fragments which are presented in frequently changing tone colour and register, this idea is used in modern vernacular music, many modern jazz musicians use his ideas on tone colouration as well as many electronic composers to this day. The mathematical similarities in Webern’s ‘total serialism’ helped the progression of electronic music and synthesized music.Many of Webern’s follow ers tried to extend the idea of ‘tone colour’ and the 12-tone technique to electronic music, notably Stockhausen who was greatly influenced by Webern’s serial technique. How Stockhausen’s influenced an electronic generation. Stockhausen began studying under Messaian with the influence of serialism, early pieces the influence can be seen from both, his mentor and Webern, notably in Kreuzspiel (1951), and Spiel (1952); the opening of Klavierstucke (1952) also began with firm serial principles.Stockhausen’s progression into electronic music began with his examination of acoustical sound, always committed to reconstructing sound synthetically by means of electro-acoustic equipment. Schaeffer allowed Stockhausen to work within the music concrete group in Paris, where he mainly recorded acoustical sounds then analysed them. After this analysis he discovered the relations of vibrations within sound, this innovation lead him to the idea of synthesized sound .After working with Schaefer his idea was not to emulate acoustic sound, but to realize the new potential of synthetic production, as a result, a completely new array of timbres can be constructed; this was not conceivable with traditional acoustic instruments. Herbert Eimert stated in his classification of notes, â€Å"the pure tone (sine-wave tone), free of overtones, which never appears in traditional music (or nature). It issues from the electronic production of sound.The sinusoidal tone system must therefore simply be a system of virtual relationship, from which a composer can create structures in the form of series, relationships, rows and other forms of organization† (P. 122 Karl H. Worner, 1973). Stockhausen’s first electronic compositions, Studie 1 (1953) being the first piece to be composed primarily with sinusoidal waves, utilizing an sine-wave generator he was able to construct complex timbres in mathematical series (the influence of integral serialism can be seen most here).This early experiment of what we now know as, additive synthesis was extremely influential to electronic and synthesized music. Studie 2 (1954) was very similar but the spectra of pure tones were radiated into a resonance chamber and re-recorded. The original sine waves were distorted to generate a similarity to noise occurrences. The piece Gesang der junglinge (1955) was the first piece to combine music concrete with electronic music. Stockhausen practised in this what we now would consider, subtractive synthesis.With the use of noise generators a full frequency spectrum can be achieved, for example white noise. The frequency bands can be filtered to produce a single band of frequency or even a single note, if precisely done. Stockhausen demanded that â€Å"electronic music should really be electronic music; its character is not to be found in imitating what already exists, but in lending itself to the discovery of completely new processes and facilitating their technical realization, so that with them can be achieved a synthesis of utterly new and unknown timbres† (P. 30 Karl H. Worner 1973). Stockhausen was a critic of popular music and its dependence on repetition, which he thought, was very predictably, although his work became very influential for popular musicians. His technique was most influential on popular musicians; he was amongst the first to implicate sampling and synthesized sound to compositions, the influence can be seen in Pop, rock and jazz in the 1960s notably on the Beatles Sgt Peppers (1967) album where an extensive use of magnetic tape sampling and tape delays were used.Many popular musicians have credited Stockhausen, his use of sampling and synthesized sound inspired a generation of popular music, where his techniques have developed. How Post-war recording technologies gave birth to electro-acoustic technology and popular music During the war, a mass demand for technology was created, Eric Hobsbawm describes t his period as a â€Å"technological earthquake† (P. 41 Timothy D. Taylor, 2001); this necessity for communications technology was vital for the war effort.Throughout this period the Germans created Magnetic tape to send coded messages, as well as to record radio broadcasts (this was later used extensively in early electro-acoustic compositions). After the Americans seized the magnetic tape technology, it was developed with higher fidelity to be used in film and radio. Reproduction technologies had an impact on the evolution of electro-acoustic equipment. Schaeffer’s piece Etude aux Chemins (1948) was one of the first electronic compositions of the 20th century, which became very influential to modern day sampling.Corporations responsible for the creation of musical instruments in early 20th century had â€Å"no vocation for economic suicide† (p. 7 Simon Emmerson, 1986), this led to them only adjusting existing instruments, therefore it was not viable for the cre ation of new inventions; it was not in their best interests. â€Å"Our civilization sees itself too smugly in the mirror of history; it is no longer creating the needs which would make renewal an economic necessity† (P. 7 Simon Emmerson, 1986). h The first half of the 20 century saw considerable progression within the domains of sound reproduction tools and the sizeable escalation of the recording industries; this developed electronic technology and in turn, developed new styles of vernacular music. This technological innovation laid the foundations for new vernacular music such genres as rock, hip-hop, etc. Due to this development, where the existence relied on electronics to produce the sound, musicians started to embrace technology. This combination of science and music started to form a complex connection.Prior to first commercially available synthesizer, created by Robert moog, much electronic works were very much based in academia and research facilities (due to sheer s ize and cost), this soon lead to a shift in musical culture. The synthesizer produced sound by â€Å"vibrating objects that are positioned close to one or more electrical coils, in between a light source and a photoelectric cell or in direct contact with a piezoelectric crystal† (P. 47 Hans-Joachim Braun, 2002); this creation gave composers endless opportunities from complex timbres to the imitation of acoustical instruments.It spread from being a specialist’s use to common use in many new style of music (as can be soon today with the thousands of bedroom studies, etc. ), this was due to the drop in price of the transistor in the 1960s. This revolutionized music, many popular musicians soon adopted the creation of the synthesizer, there generally wasn’t a ‘pop’ composition that didn’t contain some sort of electronic synthesizer in the 1980s; the Moog’s use can be seen in the production of Diana Ross and the rolling stones.It is my pers onal feeling that recording technology was one of the largest developments of the 20th century; it provided the foundation for electro-acoustic technology, this new found knowledge also allowed the spread of diverse cultures to different places in the world and created new vernacular music. The development of popular music Some popular music was designed to appeal to a mass market, and a number of them were supposed to be very catchy and memorable. With the advent of recording technologies and radio of early 20th century, music could be shared with the masses, and all economic backgrounds.In 1948 the first mass produced electric guitar was released. With the advent of the electric guitar came the creation rock and roll, (which heavily relied upon an electrical source) a mixture of rhythm and blues this new music hit the market, appealing to a mass audience; â€Å"To produce sound, an electric guitar senses the vibrations of the strings electronically and routes an electronic signal to an amplifier and speaker. The sensing occurs in a magnetic pickup mounted under the strings on the guitar's body† (P1 Marshall Brain ).This new development gave musicians more flexibility to affect the timbre of the instrument, with such electro-acoustic modules such as fuzz wah pedals and reverb. This change allowed musicians to have more control over their sound and how it was modulated, and consequently revolutionized music. The development of electronic equipment had great effect on music, the invention of these instruments developed a new popular market; it created a non-classical vernacular music which was aimed not at just a select demographic but a widespread audience. 950s saw the creation of the first ever ‘pop’ music charts; this saw Elvis become one of the first popular global sensations. The 1960s saw the Beatles became global, heavily influenced by such electro-acoustic composers as Stockhausen, set a popular music standard of writing their own l yrics and songs. Before the Beatles many pop artists were manufactured as a face instead of raw talent, (this is now becoming more apparent in 21st century music). The creation of transistor radios helped expand popular music, an individual now could listen to the radio and their favourite songs anywhere.With the arrival of samplers a new style of popular music was created, hip-hop was the first genre to be made with the skill of sampling, using prior popular music styles such as jazz and funk as influence, this technique was created by Stockhausen and Schaefer but with the advent of the sampler, was developed to be used in the common home. The advent of Music channels such as MTV had great influence on the promotion of popular music, giving the artist great visual appeal to the demographic. Popular music takes many influences from several genres, jazz, gospel, classical etc. ut the technological growth excelled the development of what we now as mainstream music. Conclusion To concl ude, Webern’s method of total serialism had great impact on the development of electro-acoustic equipment; his ideas of tone coloration were used in the development of electronic and synthesized music, which in turn developed new vernacular music. Stockhausen with the inspiration of total serialism, influenced a whole new generation of electronic music, his use of synthesized sounds and early forms of additive and subtractive synthesis shaped the electronic music era.All of the technological and theoretical innovations in the 20th century music helped develop electro-acoustics and vernacular, without these advances the development of the two would not have existed. It is my thought that both these are the two largest developments in 20th century music but credit should also be given to the areas, which made these changes possible. Bibliography Arnold Whittall (2003). Exploring Twentieth-Century Music. New York: Cambridge University press. 21-26. Ben Kettlewell (2001). Electro nic Music Pioneers.Vallejo: Course Technology Inc. 54-57, 77-93. Ethan Haimo (2009). Schoenberg’s Transformation of Musical Language. New York: Cambridge University Press. 1-8. Hans-Joachim Braun (2002). Music and Technology in the Twentieth Century. 2nd ed. United States of America: The Johns Hopkins University Press. 47-55. Joan Peyser (1993). Twentieth Century Music The sense behind the sound. New York: Pro Am Music Resources. 21-34, 63-71. Karl H. Worner (1973). Stockhausen life and work. London: Faber and Faber Limited. 118-154. Paul Griffiths (1981).Modern Music The avant garde since 1945. London: J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. 13-31, 34-51. 6 Simon Emmerson (2000). Music Electronic Media and culture. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing limited. 36-50, 70-80. Simon Emmerson (1986). The Language of Electroacoustic music. London: The Macmillan Press LTD. 1-30, 61-70. Timothy D. Taylor (2010). Strange Sounds. New York: Routledge. 1-78. David Paul. (1997). Karlheinz Stockhausen. Availabl e: http://www. stockhausen. org/stockhausen%20_by_david_paul. html. Last accessed 1st Nov 2012. Gregory McNamee. 2008). 1948 and the Birth of Rock and Roll Music. Available: http://www. britannica. com/blogs/2008/01/1948-and-the-birth-of-rock-and-rollmusic/. Last accessed 1st Dec 2012. Greg R. (2007). Pop Music Origins/Development?. Available: http://answers. yahoo. com/question/index? qid=20080703134820AA4fsJU. Last accessed 4th Dec 2012. Jeff Harder. (/). How synthesizers work. Available: http://electronics. howstuffworks. com/gadgets/audio-music/synthesizer. htm. Last accessed 4th Dec 2012. Mike Krzyzaniak. (/). Stockhausen's Studies I and II.Available: http://michaelkrzyzaniak. com/Research/Stockhausen_Studie_II/. Last accessed 4th Dec 2012. Marshall Brain. (/). How Electric Guitars Work. Available: http://entertainment. howstuffworks. com/electric-guitar1. htm. Last accessed 4th Dec 2012. Michael Manion. (/). FROM TAPE LOOPS TO MIDI: KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN’S FORTY YEARS O F ELECTRONIC MUSIC. Available: http://www. stockhausen. org/tape_loops. html. Last accessed 4th Dec 2012. Shine music school. (/). The History of Pop Music. Available: http://www. shinemusic. com. u/musicresources/history-of-pop-music. aspx. Last accessed 1st Dec 2012. Synthhead. (2010). Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Electronic Music Tips (For Aphex Twin, Plastikman & Others). Available: http://www. synthtopia. com/content/2010/10/15/karlheinz-stockhausenselectronic-music-tips-for-aphex-twin-plastikman-others/. Last accessed 15th Nov 2012. 7 Denis Smalley has suggested that the two most important musical developments in the 20th Century are the domains of the ‘electro-acoustic' and the ‘vernacular'. To what extent is his assumption correct?Tom Gersic. (/). Early Electronic Music. Available: http://www. gersic. com/writing. php? id=3. Last accessed 1st Nov 2012. Tim Whitelaw. (2003). Karlheinz Stockhausen Electronic music pioneer. Available: http://www. soundonsound. com /sos/mar08/articles/stockhausen. htm. Last accessed 4th Dec 2012. Wikipedia. (5th Dec 2012). Moog synthesizer. Available: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Moog_synthesizer. Last accessed 6th Dec 2012. Wikipedia. (12th Dec 2012). Pop music. Available: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Pop_music. Last accessed 5th Nov 2012. 8 9

Outliers: The Story to Sucess Essay

Outliers: The Story of Success is a book that examines the qualities and experiences of successful people in order to provide a blueprint for nurturing the human potential. According to the author, Malcolm Gladwell, human potential is not something one is born with but something that has to be shaped throughout one’s life course. Contrary to popular belief, having a high IQ or a lucky break are good opportunities to have, however, they do not contribute to an individual’s success alone. Gladwell realized that it took a combination of biological, personal, social, and environmental factors to help an individual reach their full potential. Examples of those factors that influence one’s success include timing of birth, area where one lives, family history, and culture. These factors make up concepts that Gladwell described as practical intelligence, social savvy, natural growth, and natural advantage. In addition to these factors, he discussed how anyone can succeed if they were willing to practice and work hard. He demonstrated this theory by researching the different stories of successful people and he found a common denominator, long hours of professional practice. He referred to this as the â€Å"10,000 Hour Rule. He mentioned that it took 10,000 hours or approximately 10 years of practice to perfect a professional trade. Outliers are successful people that are not your ordinary individual. However, the distinction of a true outlier can be attributed from the author’s recipe of success: the right combination of the different factors, practice, and hard work. Gladwell knew that IQ was not the sole determinant of success. So he developed other concepts based on family circumstances that included the time period of birth and child rearing, as well as, one’s acquired knowledge through education. Robert Sternberg described practical intelligence as a procedural method of knowledge that helps one know how, when, and what to say to whom to get what they desired. Gladwell looked at the life’s courses of successful people and found that many sports players born at a certain time of year were more likely to be selected for professional hockey or soccer teams. He discovered that they had more time to practice and become  better at playing these sports before the team’s selection process. He also looked at the time period at which one was born such as Bill Joy or Bill Gates, to show how they were born at the perfect time to refine a skill and change the world when the opportunity presented itself later in life. These examples show that each of these people acquired the proper skills from lots of hard work and long hours of practice; nonetheless, they were also at the right place at the right time, which were made possible through family circumstances. Social savvy is another process of acquiring knowledge that includes a collection of skills that had to be learned. These skills and attitudes are usually passed down through family generations and the chances of success are strongly influenced by their cultural legacy. Annette Laureate was a sociologist who best explained this concept after studying a group of black and white 3rd graders from different socioeconomic statuses. She discovered that the socioeconomic status played a major role in children developing social savvy skills. However, the two parenting style â€Å"philosophies† were divided along class lines. Wealthy and middle-class parents supported their children and encouraged them to pursue goals. Wealthy children’s parents tended to be very involved in their child’s life and their schedules were filled with numerous activities. Middle-class parents used reasoning with their children to teach their children how to talk, negotiate, and question authority figures to obtain more information. This parenting style was called â€Å"concerted cultivation† because it nurtured and evaluated a child’s opinions, talents, and skills. Whereas, poor parents had a different strategy of raising their children, that is referred to as natural growth. Natural growth is the parent’s sole responsibility of caring for their children but letting the child develop and grow on their own. Neither method is ethically better than the other but the concerted cultivation demonstrated more natural advantages. Comparing Chris Langham, the smartest person in the world, and Robert Oppenheimer, one of the wealthiest lawyers in world, we learned that the cultural advantages of the wealthier families made a significant difference in how one is able to navigate throughout life. Although the poor children were independent and creative, later on in life they were not able to customize their desired path because they  distrusted authority and lacked the knowledge that taught them how to make a lasting first impression. These concepts proved that being an outlier is not just about luck but a combination of IQ, acquired knowledge from education and ideal circumstances generated by family. In 1994, David Leven and Michael Feinberg founded KIPP, Knowledge is Power Program, Academy in New York City for underprivileged children. The school’s concept is remotely based on one of Gladwell’s main points, the importance of cultural legacy. This experimental middle school choose their students through a lottery system and the students spent long hours each day learning about respect and different school subjects. This social initiative has been compared to other foreign countries’ schooling, because it supported another one of Gladwell’s points that hard work and lots of practice matters in success. Gladwell mentioned that practical intelligence or social savvy skills were usually acquired from one’s family, but KIPP Academy taught these skills at school. Therefore, many of the children went on to be successful because they have learned the tools to ensure life achievement. As mentioned earlier, socioeconomic status was one of the factors that contributed to one’s accomplishments, however, this school’s mission proved that regardless of a child’s family background, the child can still succeed if given the structure and opportunity. Daisy Nation and her husband were hard working schoolteachers who provided a foundation for the success of their children and their grandchildren. Both of their twin daughters, Faith and Joyce, were able to reap the benefits of their labor and achieve higher education. Faith was given several scholarships but Joyce was not always that lucky. However, Daisy always looked out for both daughters and sent them to schools believing that the funds for their educations would be come unexpectedly. Joyce went to France for school where she met her husband, Graham, and in this union Malcolm Gladwell, the author of this book, was born. Gladwell was indeed an outlier; however, he remained humble in knowing that he was not self-made but the product of his family and the concepts he mentioned in his book. His IQ, practical knowledge, and social savvy all played a role in his success. This book was very inspirational to me because it helped me to understand my past, present, and future success. I was not raised in a wealthy family, attended what is considered to be the best schools or even considered the smartest person in my classes, but I have had impeccable timing and great drive to pursue goals when educational and professional opportunities presented themselves. In my past, the life lessons and values from my parents created common sense. My DNA and pursuit of higher education generated book sense. With both set of skills, I have had many memorable experiences and I obtained a substantial amount of knowledge that has brought me thus far and will take me further than my high IQ or any lucky break could have taken me alone. This thought-provoking text demonstrated that I did not have to be wealthiest or have the highest test score, but solely needed the concepts of knowledge and practice to meet the success threshold. This book has also helped me to understand what I need to do presently in order to be a Public Health and Social Work expert. I lack the direct practice that is needed to reach the expertise level; however, I am willing to work hard and long to be successful in understanding individuals to produce changes in a population of individuals. Our society needs more individuals who have found their niche and used it for the advancement of the general public. The level of training and knowledge in public health is ever-changing and will require hard work and practice to be effective. I am an African American woman who has continued to beat the odds regardless of what some have predicted or desired for my life. At times, I feel as if they are right, but I remember the words of a wise man, â€Å"God doesn’t expect you to always be the best, He just expects you to do your best.† Therefore, I use negativity as my motivation to keep striving and utilize my skills to make a change one step, one day at a time.