Disease And Conditions Prostate Cancer Causes - 1727 Words

The prostate is a miniature gland that encloses the urethra under the bladder. This organ consists of a combination of tubular and alveolar glands found within smooth muscle and dense connective tissue. During sexual activity, more specifically, ejaculation, the prostate contracts and releases a fluid that plays a crucial role in activating males’ sperm, producing semen. The prostate is also important because it houses citrate, a source of nutrients for one’s body, enzymes, and cells that produce protein. Main Text Pathophysiology and Molecular Events Individuals who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are usually older men who inherit the disease genetically or have an unhealthy diet. Prostate cancer can spread in multiple ways and†¦show more content†¦The last potential method is through the blood, which takes advantage of blood vessels to spread cancer cells and allows it to invade other parts of the body. Because there are multiple ways in which cancer can spread, prostate cancer is also divided into multiple stages. In the first stage, cancer cells are discovered in one part of the prostate only. In the second stage, cancer cells have spread throughout the entire organ, but has not made its way out and onto others. In the third stage, cancer cells have made its way onto the exterior of the prostate organ. There is also a possibility that it is making its way towards the seminal vesicles. In the fourth and final stage, the cells have moved past the seminal vesicles and are starting to invade and attach to other organs, slowly spreading throughout the entire body. Patients will start to experience signs and symptoms, prior to being diagnosed with prostate cancer, that will mostly cause discomfort when urinating or pain in the abdominal and lower back region. However, it is crucial that they are diagnosed with this disease by a professional because the symptoms of prostate cancer are ex tremely similar to those of other diseases related to the prostate. It is important that they are not diagnosed with the wrong disease as this would cause more harm and danger to the patient. Population Affected Prostate cancer is a common illness among men in the United States and around the world. Authors Elaine N. Marieb and Katja

Effectiveness Of Therapeutic Play Health And Social Care Essay Free Essays

This chapter dealt with literature mention sing curative drama and painful processs and surveies related to Gate Control Theory. This chapter besides dealt with conceptual model of Melzack and Wall ( 1965 ) Gate Control Theory. CHAPTER-III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This chapter deals with the methodological analysis selected for measuring the effectivity of curative drama on degree of hurting during endovenous canulation. We will write a custom essay sample on Effectiveness Of Therapeutic Play Health And Social Care Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now The function of methodological analysis consists of processs and techniques of carry oning a survey. ( Sharma,1990 ) Methodology is a important portion of the research under which the research worker is able to project a bluish print of the research undertaken RESEARCH APPROACH The subdivision of research attack is the basic process for carry oning a research question. In position of the nature of the job selected and aims to be accomplished, a quantitative appraising research attack was considered appropriate to measure the effectivity of curative drama before making endovenous canulation among kids admitted in selected infirmary, Salem. RESEARCH DESIGN Research design is the overall program for turn toing research worker ‘s inquiries including specification for heightening the survey ‘s unity. ( Polit and Beck, 2004 ) Choice of design is based on the intent of the survey. The research design adopted for the survey was Non-equivalent Post trial merely control group design. Group Day 1 Experimental group X O1 Control group O1 Fig-3.1: Conventional representation of research design Keies: Ten: Intervention on curative drama. O1: Post-test merely to measure the degree of hurting during endovenous canulation. VARIABLES UNDER STUDY: A variable is a mensurable or potentially mensurable constituent of an object or event that may fluctuate in quality or measure from one person, object or event to another single object or event of the same general category. ( Basavanthappa, 1998 ) The variables under the survey was the followers, Independent variable: Harmonizing to Polit and Hungler, ( 1999 ) the independent variable is believed to care or act upon the behavior and thoughts. In this survey the independent variable refers to curative drama before making endovenous canulation. Dependent Variable: The dependant variable is the variable, the research worker is interested in understanding, explicating and predating. ( Polit and Hungler, 1999 ) In this survey the dependant variable refers to the degree of hurting during endovenous canulation among kids. Extraneous Variable: The variables that are present in research environment which may interfere with research findings by moving as unwanted independent variable. ( Woods and Khan, 1994 ) In this survey it refers to selected demographic variables such as age in old ages, gender and behavioral response to endovenous canulation. Setting OF THE STUDY: The scene of the survey is the physical location and status in which information aggregation takes topographic point. ( Polit and Hungler, 2009 ) The survey was conducted in Pranav Hospital, Salem. It is located near to New Bus Stand and about 2kms distance from the establishment, where the research worker is analyzing. The infirmary is 150 stratified multi forte infirmary with 30 bed in Paediatric unit. Population: Harmonizing to Polit and Beck. , ( 2004 ) population is the full collection of instances in which a research worker is interested. Population may be of two types, accessible population and mark population. In this survey two are described. Target Population: It refers to the population that the research worker wishes to do a generalization. In this research the mark population was kids acquiring admitted in Pranav Hospital. Accessible Population: It refers to the sum of instances which confirm to the designed standards and which is accessible to the research worker as the pool of topics or objects. In this survey the population consisted of kids acquiring admitted in Pranav Hospital who were undergoing endovenous canulation during the period of survey. Sample: Harmonizing to Polit and Beck. , ( 2004 ) sampling is the procedure of choosing a part of population to stand for the full population. Sample is the subset of population elements. In this survey the samples selected from kids of age group 3-6 old ages undergoing endovenous canulation in Pranav Hospital who fulfil the inclusion standards. Sampling TECHNIQUE AND SAMPLE SIZE Thomas. , ( 1990 ) defines trying is the procedure of choosing units for survey from a population. In this survey Purposive sampling technique was used to choose sample. Sample size was 20 for control group and 20 for experimental group. CRITERIA FOR SAMPLE SELECTION Inclusion Standards: The topic was selected based on the preset standards, aˆ? Children between the age group of 3-6yrs. aˆ? Children who had admitted in pediatric ward for the intervention through endovenous canulation. Exclusion Standards: aˆ? Mentally challenged kids. aˆ? Children with critically sick or of exigency admittance. DESCRIPTION AND INTERPRETATION OF TOOLS The instrument selected in research must be vechile that obtain best informations for pulling decision to the survey. ( Treece and Treece, 1986 ) The tool developed based on the information gathered from relevant literature reappraisal. The content cogency of the demographic informations and independent variable was established by obtaining sentiment from 5 experts ( 3 Nursing experts and 2 Medical experts ) . Tool -1: Demographic informations: It includes age in old ages, gender, behavioral response to endovenous canulation of the kid. Demographic information of the instrument was non scored but used for descriptive analysis. Tool-2: Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale: This evaluation graduated table is recommended for kids of ages 3and older. It consists of mark 0,2,4,6,8,10. During the clip of endovenous canulation the facial look of the kid was assessed by the research worker with this hurting graduated table. Face 0-no injury, Face 2-hurts merely a small spot, Face 4-hurts a little more, Face 6-hurts even more, Face 8-hurts a whole batch, Face 10-hurt every bit much as we can conceive of. Based on the hiting the hurting degree was assessed. Development of curative drama for direction of painful processs: A curative drama on direction of painful processs was prepared to diminish the degree of hurting during endovenous canulation. The stuffs used were venflon without stillet, plaster, stuffed doll with endovenous injection site, splint. The presentation was done by the research worker utilizing the needed stuffs and so the kid was allowed to pattern the endovenous canulation for the doll. This method was done before making endovenous canulation to the kid by the staff nurse. VALIDITY OF THE TOOL AND INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: The content was validated by the same 5 experts who validated the tool ( demographic variable ) and independent variable as per the standard. Harmonizing to experts suggestions the necessary images were included in the independent variable. It was translated in Tamil and once more retranslated in English by the linguistic communication experts severally. PILOT STUDY: Pilot survey is the little scale version or a trail tally done in readying for major survey. ( Polit and Hungler, 1999 ) The Pilot survey was conducted in SKS Hospital at Salem. After acquiring the written permission from concerned authorization, researcher conducted survey from 4.08.2010 to 11.08.2010 among kids who underwent endovenous canulation. The intent of the survey was explained to the samples and their parent every bit good as written consent was obtained from them. The entire size was 2 for control group and 2 for experimental group. Purposive sampling technique was used for sample choice. For the control group without giving intercession, the degree of hurting was assessed. A concise information analysis done by utilizing descriptive and illative statistics. The consequence of the survey showed the average station trial degree of hurting for control group as 90 % and for experimental group as 50 % . After that the ‘t ‘ value was calculated to happen out the important difference between the degree of hurting for control group and experimental group at P lt ; 0.05 degree of significance. No important difference was seen between the control group and experimental group. No association was found between station trial degree of hurting and their age, gender and behavioral response of the kid. Since the sample size was merely 2 for control group and 2 for the experimental group. so the survey was non found as important in ‘t ‘ trial and chi-square trial. DATACOLLECTION PROCEDURE: Harmonizing to Polit and Hungler. , ( 1999 ) , â€Å" Data aggregation is the assemblage of information needed to turn to a research job † . Data aggregation for the survey was done from 18.08.2010 to 05.09.2010 in Pranav Hospital at Salem. Initially the research worker got the permission from the concerned authorization. Then the population were identified from the kids who have got admitted in the infirmary were selected by utilizing purposive sampling technique based on the inclusion standards. The sample size was 20 kids as control group and 20 as experimental group and the intent of the survey was explained to the samples and their parent every bit good as willingness to take part was assured by taking written consent of the parent of each sample and giving confidence for maintaining their information confidentially. At first the control group was selected and no intercession was given. On the twenty-four hours of admittance the hurting degree was assessed, during endovenous canulation by utilizing Wong-Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale. After the control group got finished, the experimental group was selected by purposive sampling technique. On day-1, after the kid got admitted, the parents and the kid were introduced by the research worker. The intercession on curative drama given. A particular room was provided to them in the presence of playthings. The research worker clearly explained and taught about the curative drama by utilizing a stuffed doll and the other needful stuffs. The research worker demonstrated the curative drama. Then the research worker made the kid to pattern the endovenous canulation on the doll by doing an unreal endovenous canulation site utilizing a venflon without stillet. After the intercession the research worker identified that the kid got relaxation from the emphasis of hospitalization. The continuance of the intercession was 20 proceedingss. After the intercession the kid was made to be ready for endovenous canulation. The endovenous canulation was done by the staff nurse. The post-test degree of hurting was assessed during the endovenous canulation by utilizing the same tool. Plan FOR DATA ANALYSIS Collected informations were planned for analysis by utilizing the frequence distribution, descriptive ststistics ( mean, SD, average mark per centum ) and illative statistics ( pupil ‘t ‘ trial, Chi-square trial ) .This was done to happen out the effectivity of curative drama degree of hurting among kids who underwent endovenous canulation. Summary This chapter dealt with the methodological analysis of how the research worker had planned and organized for the informations aggregation, the method of hiting and description of tool, pilot survey, informations aggregation process and program for informations analysis. How to cite Effectiveness Of Therapeutic Play Health And Social Care Essay, Essay examples

Catherine the Great of all Russia Essay Example For Students

Catherine the Great of all Russia Essay Catherine II (a. k. a. Catherine the Great) Catherine II, or Catherine the Great, empress of all Russia, did much to continue the process of Westernization reforms began by Peter the Great. Catherine was devoted to art, literature, science, and politics. Many people say she had a great gift and was a great leader, thus she was awarded with the name the Great She helped develop schools, hospitals, and many other organizations for the country. She was a shrewd leader and autocrat and helped to continue and further reforms made by Peter the Great, finally making Russia a permanent European power. Originally named Sophie Frederick Augusta, Princess of Anholt-Zerbst, she was born in Stettin on May 2, 1729, the daughter of the German prince of Anholt-Zerbst . At the age of fifteen she went to Russia and married Grand Duke Peter of Holstein, heir to the Russian throne. The marriage was despondent, but intelligent and ambitious Catherine soon managed to assemble up a liaison of supporters. On October 1, 1754, Catherine gave birth to her son, the future emperor, Paul Petrovich Romanov, and three years later on December 20, 1957, she gave birth to her daughter, Anna Petrovna Romanov. Elizabeth died on December 25, 1761, and Catherines husband succeeded as Peter III. Erratic, unstable, and contemptuous of his Russian subjects, the new ruler soon made himself unpopular, especially with certain German officers. Led by Alexei Orlov (whose brother Grigori was Catherines lover) the officers staged a coup in June 1762. Peter was deposed (and subsequently murdered) and Catherine was placed on the throne in his place. Catherine was fascinated with the philosophies and theories of the Enlightenment, and was well acquainted with the literature of the French Enlightenment, which was an important influence on her own political influence. She corresponded extensively with Voltaire and Denis Diderot, gave financial support to them and a number of other French writers, and played host to Diderot at her court in 1773. Although, this gesticulation of hospitality was partially aimed at creating a favorable image in Western Europe, she was probably sincere in her interest and her hope to apply some of the ideas of the Enlightenment to rationalize and reform the administration of the Russian Empire. Imbued with the ideas of the Enlightenment, Catherine aimed at completing the job started by Peter the Greatwesternizing Russiabut she had contradictory methods. Rather then forcing society to reform, she encouraged individual initiative in pursuit of self-interest. In the early years of her reign, she sought to win the support of the Russian gentry, and, in particular Despite her interest in legal reform, the commission she appointed for that purpose failed to accomplish its goals. But eventually, she learned how to select capable assistantsfor example, Nikita Panin in foreign affairs, Alexandre Suvorov in the military, and Grigori Potemkin in administration. Among Catherines more benevolent achievements were the foundation of the first Russian school for girls and of a medical college to provide health care for her subjects. In the early years of her reign, Catherine sought to win the approval of the gentry, which was a small part of Russias population. She succeeded to a degree with the upper class, but did nothing for the overwhelming majority of the populationthe enserfed peasantry. Conservatism Peasant unrest culminated in a great revolt (1773-75), led by Cossack Yemelyan Pugachov, that raged over much of the Volga River Basin and the Ural Mountains before it was finally ruthlessly crushed by military force. The revolt marked a turn toward more reactionary internal policy. The Cossack army was disbanded, and other Cossacks were granted special privileges in an effort to transform them into loyal supporters of the autocracy. The revolt alerted Catherine to the necessity for reform. In 1775, she reorganized the local administration, integrated the Cossacks into the regular army, and put the serfs belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church under the administration of the state. In 1785, she issued two chartersto the towns and to the nobilityto involve the educated classed in local administration in return for protection of their status and property rights. .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 , .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .postImageUrl , .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 , .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00:hover , .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00:visited , .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00:active { border:0!important; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00:active , .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00 .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u17b7feae223e838bfa305a55320aff00:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: A People's History Of The United States Chapter Fo EssayIn similar spirit, Catherine established the Free Economic Society to encourage the modernization of agriculture and industry. She promoted trade and the development of underpopulated regions by inviting foreign settlers such as the Volga Germans, and she founded new towns (Odessa, for example) and enterprises on the Black Sea. Herself a prolific writer, Catherine patronized arts and letters, permitted the establishment of private printing presses, and relaxed censorship rules. Under her guidance the University of Moscow and the Academy of Sciences became internationally recognized centers of learning; she also increased the number of state and private schools. As a result, the Russian nobility, and some townspeople, also began to organize associations for the promotion of schools and publications. Catherine, who did not want to surrender control over social and cultural policy, viewed these activities with suspicion. The outbreak of the French Revolution in 1789 and the publication of Alexandre Radishchevs journey from St. Petersburg to Moscow in 1790, in which the author denounced the evils of serfdom, the immorality of society, and the abuses of government, prompted Catherine to impose repressive measures, which in turn alienated many of the educated. Finally, Catherine vastly expanded the Russian empire. Following the two successful wars against Turkey (the Russo-Turkish Wars of 1768-74 and 1787-92), Russia secured the Crimea and thus realized a centuries-old dream of establishing itself on the north shore of the black Sea. The fertile lands of the Ukraine were also opened for settlement and soon became the granary of Europe. Catherine also participated in the partitions of Poland (1772,1792, and 1795) bringing a large part of that country under Russian rule. Catherine had twenty-one lovers, and her spirit doctor inspected them all before they could be her lover but Sergei Vasiljevits Saltykov (father of her first son) and Grigori Orlov (father of second son) were special to her. Upon the death of Catherine on November 17, 1796, modern Russian society was organized and its culture had struck firm roots. Russia was also playing a determining role in world affairs.

The Concept of Community Development to the Homeless Youths in Australia

Introduction A community is a group of individuals who share a common location. These individuals have a lot of aspects in common for instance their needs, values, beliefs, preferences as well as aspirations.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Community Development to the Homeless Youths in Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Community development on the other hand entails the process and practices that are undertaken by various responsible individuals and groups for example political leaders, nongovernmental organizations and activists among others, in an effort to uplift the lives of communities through improving various aspects that surround them. Community development is a broad concept which focuses on building communities especially on a local basis by ensuring that the status of the overall economy of a nation is enhanced, the social ties among people are strengthened and that the needs of all individuals in a community are met. There are various approaches and strategies that could be adopted to allow for community development, each with its benefits as well as limitations depending on a given situation. This piece of work gives a comprehensive discussion on the concept of community development with much emphasis being given to the Homeless Youths in Australia (the community chosen as the case study). The paper will discuss the problems faced by the youths in the country and how community development strategies could be used in eliminating this ordeal. Background information of the community (the youths) Youths are usually a very significant constituent of the overall population in any given nation. This is because they possess a lot of value and energy that could change most of the activities undertaken in a nation in the current period as well as in future. The youths are young people who have not yet attained adulthood age. This is a community that is very vuln erable to a lot of social as well as economic related problems as a result of their age and the fact that parents expect them to be a bit independent as opposed to when they were considered as children and hence totally dependent on help from parents and other people.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The situation is even worse in Australia since we have a very disturbing problem of the homeless youths. This group of youths is at a greater risk as compared to the ordinary youths who have no problem with housing or those who have comfortable homes. According to the Australian government national enquiry into homeless children and youths report of 1989, the homeless youth population in Australia was estimated to a range of 20,000 to 25,000 a figure that is way too high1. According to a study carried out by Johnson (2008), the condition of youth homelessness in Australia is worsenin g day by day. A national study of homelessness in Australia as per the year 2008 indicated that more that 100,000 individuals were homeless with the young people between the ages of 12 and 24 years old totaling to about 36,000. This is an alarming figure and calls for strategic plans and actions to alleviate these issues and make the lives of the youths comfortable and brighter. In Brisbane for example, which is a city with a population of approximately 1.2 million people, the number of the homeless youths is estimated to total to 3000002. The nature of the issues and aspirations of the youths To come up with a clear description of the nature of the issues and aspirations of the homeless youths in Australia, an appreciative inquiry process was used. Some written documentation was also useful in giving relevant information about the same. The homeless youths in Australia face a lot of problems. The issues include, lack of personal security and privacy, lack of basic commodities like food, bedding and clothing, hygiene and sanitation, reduced access to health care facilities, limited access to quality education, discrimination from the society which creates problems with normal relationships enjoyed by other ordinary people in the society, increased unemployment rates, limited access to essential services like banking and communication technology and violence and abuse among others. These problems put the homeless youths at a risk and they end up engaging in criminal activities as a way of hiding their disappointments in life. They could for example be involved in substance abuse, drug trafficking, gang operations among other criminal related activities.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Concept of Community Development to the Homeless Youths in Australia specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This does not solve their problems but rather worsen their condition and hence some community developme nt strategies to solve this could be essential. Despite the problems they face, the youths aspire to be successful in future and would wish to acquire quality education which will enable them to be independent for example through securing good employment opportunities3. Development focus There are various types of development focuses that could be taken in different situations in regard to the needs and aspirations of a particular community or group of individuals in question. The focuses of community development include some form of economic development, political development, social development as well as foreign relations development. Economic development entails the improvement in the standard of living of the individuals in a given nation through enhancement of the economic status especially in terms of the income levels. Economic development is deemed to be connected to the overall development of the people and a nation at large as it leads to the general well being of those g overned by the economic development policies. Social development on the other hand is a process that is aimed at changing social- related structures and operations so as to enhance the capacity of the community enabling it to achieve its aspirations. Political development entails the enhancement of various aspects that form the political power system of a society for instance the attitudes, beliefs, values as well as the institutions. Political development is very essential as it promotes a nation’s capacity to not only mobilize but also allocate resources to various sectors of the economy. Development of foreign relations entails promoting good relations between a given nation and other nations in the world. This is very essential as it allows for effective collaboration of nations in various aspects. It is however possible only when a nation has achieved internal development. The issue of homeless youths in Australia could be solved through the application of all these deve lopments focuses since it touches on all of them especially the social, economic and political development. The problems faced by the youths are economical, political and social in nature and hence necessitates taking of various actions and establishment of various policies to reduce them or rather eliminate them.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Community development approaches to be applied From the above named development approaches, I consider economic, social and political development (in this order) to be very crucial when it comes to the issue of the homeless youths in Australia. Economic development would ensure that the living standards of the population including the youths are improved to a great extent through empowering them. The homeless youths could for instance get access to housing facilities hence reducing their problems. Social development on the other hand would ensure that people have got access to essential social facilities and that the relationship ties are well established avoiding aspects like discrimination and risks of violence. Political development will be helpful in ensuring that appropriate policies are put in place to ensure fair allocation of resources hence quality life of all individuals including the homeless youths. There are various strategies that could be utilized under these developm ent programs to ensure that the problems faced by the homeless youths in Australia are solved and that their aspirations are fulfilled in one way or the other. Some of the strategies are individual-based while others entail collaboration of various persons and responsible authorities for instance the government, youth foundations, non governmental institutions among others. Each strategy is suitable for utilization in particular situations and could be associated with some benefits and limitations in terms of the results achieved after they are used. Some of the strategies that would be utilized by the different authorities in an effort to curb the problem of homelessness among children and youths in Australia include; different campaign strategies aimed at educating all the responsible individuals and groups on the issues of youth homelessness and all the aspects that surround it so that appropriate actions could be taken. This is because some things usually happen as a result of i gnorance or lack of understanding of the seriousness of matters or else how they can be solved. Positive campaigning could involve the homeless youths where they could be educated on the various ways that in which their lives would be made better. This will help in removing them from their hopelessness and disappointment status giving them hope of a better life. The youths could then be involved in the search of different paths that could be followed in order to satisfy their needs or else solve their problems. Campaigning aims at bringing about some positive change especially through mobilizing the external factors. Direct action campaign for instance, is aimed at achieving specific goals and could be used to sensitize the responsible bodies to help solve the problems faced by the homeless youths in Australia. Another very significant strategy that could help in dealing with the issues faced by the homeless youths is community capacity building. This entails a process through which the homeless youth are empowered through various means for instance equipping them with relevant skills and knowledge. Through community building, I would advocate for establishment of an institution that will take care of the needs of the homeless youths and empower them fully. Community development principles and their importance There are various community development principles that could be used in the various strategies or approaches adopted in the development focuses. Some of the common community development principles include empowerment, participation, lobbying, social policy development and advocating for various elements like social justice among others. For the sake of this assignment I chose direct campaigning and community capacity building as the appropriate strategies to be used mainly due to the status of the community chosen for study, the homeless youths in Australia. The community development principles like participation and empowerment would ensure that the st rategies put in place are appropriately implemented and hence allow for achievement of the set goals and objectives in regard to solving the problem of homelessness among youths in Australia. Participation entails involvement of people in activities that are aimed at benefiting them. In regard to the problem at hand I would propose for strategies that actively involve the youths. This will ensure that the strategies are successful because they are as a result of the victims initiatives. The youths will for example be involved in the suggestion of the various skills and knowledge to be impacted in the established institution4. Empowerment is the other community development principle that could be very useful in solving the issues faced by the homeless youths in Australia. It entails increasing the strength of the youths where they see themselves to be capable of contributing positively to the society. In regard to this issue, the youths would be empowered (in the established institut ion) through provision of education services and other training aimed at making them independent. This will allow them to secure good job opportunities that will in turn allow them to sustain themselves and those around them hence eliminating the problem of homelessness and all the issues associate with it. Limitations/ barriers that could be faced in community development processes and practices and How to overcome the limitations The process of community development is not a smooth one but is faced with various challenges. In my process of engaging the homeless youths improve their status through participation and community building, I would be faced with some barriers. This would include resistance in taking part in some of the advocated activities for various reasons for example the fear that they may not be successful and hence they may end up wasting time and remain in the same situation.This could be solved through encouragement and educational campaigns aimed at putting sens e into them. Another barrier could be lack of resources for example finances to facilitate the activities such as establishment and maintenance of the institution to house the homeless youth and provide them with necessary facilities and services. This could be solved through asking for financial and other related support from various sources for instance the government and non governmental organizations. Conclusion Community development is a very significant aspect that should never be underemphasized under any circumstance. This is because the various strategies adopted for the purpose of community development have been very successful in solving community-based problems as well as helping individuals to attain their dreams or aspirations. The youths in Australia are faced with a variety of issues and utilization of the various community development approaches and strategies could help them come out of the situations and live a better life which would lead to their well being, in terms of empowerment and prosperity, as well as the well being of the entire society and the nation at large. The homeless youths in particular face a lot of psychological distress and could suffer from various psychiatric disorders if effective measures are not put in place. This could however be eliminated through community development. Bibliography Coyne, B. V. Homelessness: A bibliography. New York, Nova Publishers, 2007. Eade, D Oxfam UK Ireland. Capacity-Building: An Approach to People-Centered Development. UK, Oxfam, 1997. Johnson, C. â€Å"Worsening Youth Homelessness In Australia† 2008. Retrieved from, https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2008/08/home-a12.html Van der Ploeg, J.D, E. Scholte E.M. Scholte. Homeless Youth, London, SAGE, 1997. Footnotes 1. J.D Van der Ploeg, S. Evert S.M. Evert. Homeless youth, London, Sage, 1997. pp 20 2. C. Johnson. â€Å"Worsening youth homelessness in Australia† 2008. 3. B. V, Coyne, Homelessness: A bibliography. New York, Nova Publishers, 2007 pp 107 4. D, Eade Oxfam UK Ireland. Capacity-Building: An Approach to People-Centered Development. UK, Oxfam, 1997 UK pp 23 This essay on The Concept of Community Development to the Homeless Youths in Australia was written and submitted by user Crosby Snow to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Industrial Terrorism in Modern World

Industrial Terrorism in Modern World Overview Incorrect assumption in alleviating the threat posed by industrial terrorism is the main setback in the fight against acts of terror that target industrial chemical establishments. In the past, much of the effort had been directed towards responding to disasters caused by terrorism with minimal consideration of protective measures that can be put in place.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Industrial Terrorism in Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although the September 11, 2001 incidence did not target chemical plants but real human life, first responders have made significant progress strengthening capabilities needed to defend the nation against the threat of WMD (Kosal, 2006). The DHS national guidelines developed and implemented nationwide have provided a durable framework for multi-agency coordination and cooperation. This is important because terrorist attacks or major disasters often ar e beyond what a single jurisdiction can respond to effectively. However, whether levels of preparedness are adequate at all levels of government may prove difficult to assess. Many emergency response and management professionals believe that the nation is better prepared than it was prior to 11th September 2001, but still has plenty of room for improvement. For example, priority missions identified in Homeland Security Strategic Plans have associated capabilities taken from the DHS Target Capabilities List. Each capability must reach target levels of performance if an adequate level of preparedness is to be achieved. It is clear that the emergency response community benefits from national standards that allow response entities to coordinate more effectively than before. However, to reiterate, is this level of preparedness where it needs to be? If not, what are the shortfalls and how should they be addressed? The biggest challenge for achieving an appropriate level of preparedness na tionwide remains the need for continued strengthening of multi-agency capabilities. Multi-agency preparedness, in terms of multi-agency capabilities achieving target levels of performance, is critical for safeguarding the country. This paper offers a succinct overview of industrial terrorism with cross reference to regulatory measures in place and some of the loopholes that need to be sealed in fully addressing the menace. Incidents It is highly possible that close to 2.4 million people may either sustain serious injuries or be killed altogether in the event that a terrorist attack is directed in a heavy industrial plant establishment with several employees (Perrow, 2007). Secondly, it also worth to note that substantial quantities of industrial chemicals emanating from over 15,000 chemical plants are transported, stored and produced.Advertising Looking for term paper on homeland security? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More It is against this background that â€Å"a worst vase release† was determined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1996 and established the fact that over 100 of the identified chemical facilities had the potential of jeopardizing over one million lives located near the plants. Further, it is also estimated that between100, 000 and 1,000,000 people are currently at risk of the chemical facilities should they turn to be targets of industrial terrorists. Indeed, these are staggering numbers that authorities cannot merely develop policy documents without implementing the proposals. While politics has played a significant role in aggravating industrial terrorism, the international terrorist groups targeting industrial chemical plants has been uniquely identified as a thorn in the flesh in domestic security platform. It is an urgent threat to the security of people, whether viewed in terms of loss in life or destruction of property. Unfortunately, the relative effo rts to improve the status of domestic security have not seriously embarked on setting up robust measures against safeguarding industrial plants. The chemical plants remain as potential points of ‘accidents’ yet to be caused by terrorist. Owing to this precariously dangling scenario, there are interest groups that have incessantly pressured Washington to institute safety measures. On the same note, the chemical industries themselves are fighting hard to see into it that the federal government put up measures that will protect them against organized international terrorism. Even after the September 11 attacks and the subsequent creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), critics continue to assert that security measures adopted by the Homeland Security Act f 2002 on industrial chemicals are quite weak. The Act does not fully take into account the growing technological trends in industrial terrorism. Most chemical plants do not have any robust security structure since the federal standards in place are relatively weak.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on Industrial Terrorism in Modern World specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Critical infrastructure Why then are the chemical industries considered to be critical infrastructure? It is definite that employees in chemical industries are at a higher risk exposure due to threats of industrial terrorism. It is also evident that the worst-case scenarios present staggering numbers of people that are highly likely to be either injured or killed. The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) estimated over 2,000 sustained injuries in over 2,000 facilities each year. It is important to note that these figures are drawn within the U.S borders alone. The statistics could even be higher bearing in mind that the total number of chemical establishments in United States is continually growing. Contrary to the expectation, most of t hese injuries are sustained when the chemicals are being transported, not just within the chemical plants themselves. Besides, the worst impact of industrial terrorism is felt on the performance of the economy over and above the mass causalities and injuries. Much of the export from U.S emanates from the chemical industry. For instance, the year 2001 witnessed more than 80 billion dollars of exports from the chemical industry. This accounted for slightly over 10% of the total exports from United States. Besides, the industry employs more than one million workers at the local level while Research and Development consumes over 31 billion dollars on an annual basis. It is against this background that any terror attacks on industrial chemical facilities can grossly jeopardize the economy and as such, it is considered to be a critical infrastructure. In any case, the ability to communicate risk as soon as they are noted is crucial since it marks an integral step of responding to risks as well as being strategically prepared. The fact that strategic risk management has not been visibly put in place implies that some of the safety measures put in place may not be well received by the people and especially those employed in the industrial facilities targeted by terrorists (Chess, 2001). To date, industrial facilities that are considered high risk to acts of terrorism are being safeguarded by the SARA Title III. According to this title, the task of reporting and communicating risk has been mandated to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Advertising Looking for term paper on homeland security? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More For comminutes that are located within the proximity of facilities earmarked as ‘high risk’, local Emergency Planning Committees have been formed bridge the gap between the local governments and the grass-root level. One of the fundamental roles of this committee is to set up procedures and measures for manufacturing emergencies. Additionally, the committee also serves as an open forum where concerned groups or individuals can air their concerns regarding the chemical industries located near them. For instance, health and safety officials, industry representatives, government officials as well as individual residents can make use of this committee to deliberate on safety concern issues emanating from industrial establishments within their locality. Realistically speaking, it is vital step to take. The impact would even be larger if it were replicated in the at all levels of the government namely local, state and federal. The American Chemistry Council has also been on t he forefront towards implementing the initiatives set forward by the state and federal government. For example, there are SARA Title III requirements that must be met by chemical industrial plants. In order to meet these minimum requirements, the council is proactive in creating community advisory panels. These panels provide a forum through which the community can dialogue on matters related to safety of industrial facilities within their areas of residence. Besides, the public health officials are also mandated to see into it that the manufacturing principles are not only safe enough for the exposed populations but also meet the optimum requirements for anti-terror attacks. Furthermore, the Responsible Care Security Code was incepted after the 9/11 terror attacks. The code ensures that there is re-alignment between law enforcement and industry relationships. The protection of the high-risk chemical sites is also a top priority agenda under this code. Furthermore, the chemical comp anies are required by law to safeguard information that may be lethal should they fall on perpetrators of terror alongside striving to improve the security of their environment (Linden, 2007). This requirement is contained in the Responsible Care Practitioner’s Site chapter. Hence, both the individual companies and the industry at large are redirecting their efforts in developing components crucial to combat industrial terrorism. In order to achieve this, risk communication plans have been devised and implemented by many players especially those in the explosive toxic chemical industries. Although such efforts are apparently appealing, there is lack of positive reporting on the impacts derived from these measures. For example, environmental information and how the same is communicated to citizens is still a matter of concern. There are mixed reactions on how both the councils and committees have been relaying the vital information to the highly vulnerable communities. It is f eared that although such community based organizations have existed for long, most residents seem not to be aware of their operations (Heath, Bradshaw Lee, 2002). On the other hand, the intended functions of these organizations have been approved by slightly over 60% of residents. Nonetheless, it is unanimously agreed that a communication structure that is fully functional is necessary so that uncertainties can be managed a lot easier. Industrial responsiveness is indeed paramount even as the integral role of risk management is being given due consideration by both the federal government and industry players. Federal regulations The Department of Homeland Security was created by the federal government in a bid to tame domestic security, this being one of the largest overhauls in security systems and structures ever experienced in a fifty-year period (Sloan, 2008). The rationale behind this monumental task was to harness and consolidate the federal government’s protective and anti-terror systems so as to ascertain that the process of deploying and coordinating security services is done in a more harmonious and effective way. The emergency preparedness and response branch takes care of disaster preparedness at the domestic level alongside offering training and capacity building to First Responders. Furthermore, this division accelerates the process of recovering from acts of terror and disasters. In fact, the key role of the directorate is to ensure that there is a high level of disaster preparedness among various teams charged with emergency response. This would be of great importance to industrial terrorism setting where mass causalities are highly likely in the event of terror attack. Hence, an emergency response plan is one of the many strategies employed by this division to cater for hazards and attacks. Under this division are FBIs National Domestic Preparedness Office and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Moreover, a national crisis managem ent system is part and parcel of the distinguishing tasks of this wing. In order to achieve this, it coordinates the working of emergency response teams using some public safety organizations located at the local and state governments. The science and technology division specifically deals with technology behind technological advances in Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) that are often used attacking industrial chemical facilities. Hence, all catastrophic acts of terrorism applying either biological or chemical warfare are under the control of this wing of DHS. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 also mandates the science and technology division to set up a national emergency strategy teams at all levels of the government (Sloan, 2008). For example, the local and state governments should be well equipped with response teams that are well versed with both the management and disaster recovery skills following nuclear attacks, radiological or chemical terrorism. The overall aim is to sy nchronize the various response plans to improve efficiency. Further, the development of diagnostics antidotes, antibodies and vaccines is under this division. Better still, the Act provides plenty of room for devising countermeasures that can be instrumental in minimizing the threats of WMD attacks. Data collection and analysis is under the docket of Information Analysis and Infrastructure Division. The data to be analyzed are obtained from relevant federal agencies like Departments Drug Enforcement Agency and National Security Agency. The Homeland Security Act 2002 also established two main units under this division. These are the Critical Infrastructure Protection as well as the Threat Analysis and Warning. As a core duty, the division ensures that all data gathered and analyzed before the September 11 attacks are not only accurate but also relevant in the actual security operation. Hence, information has been centralized by this wing of the homeland security. The given informatio n is assessed in terms of the potential threats to national security. Additionally, relevant response actions are conveyed to the right teams spread across the federal government. Disparate intelligence information is compiled by the Threat Analysis and Warning wing of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The level of vulnerability of the nation in terms of catastrophes caused by either man or natural factors is also assessed. The security information at the domestic level is evaluated by the Critical Infrastructure Protection. In particular, the internal security components of the nation are analyzed by this division of the Homeland security. While the roles of the division are far reaching, the individual officials deployed at this branch are mandated to come up with sound policies that can assist in protecting targets labeled as high risk. Apart from the provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 outlined above, this grand piece of legislation also stipulates that expl osives should not be possessed beyond certain restrictions. Further, the Act also permits training of pilots on how to defend their crew just in case they are exposed to danger of airborne terror attack. It goes further stating that airport screening can only be done by either U.S nationals or citizens. The U.S immigrants are excluded under this provision. Although the Act has addressed myriad of security concern issues on terrorism, there are latent weaknesses that cannot be ignored if the department is to fully safeguard the growing threats to industrial terrorism. For instance, the creation of Operation TIPS is strictly forbidden in the Homeland Security Act of 2002. According to critics, this controversial security organ would have transformed the Department of Homeland Security into a swift intelligence agency with the power and ability to efficiently handle and manages homeland security in totality including industrial terrorism. Nonetheless, the main point of concern by the A merican Liberties Union is that the integration of such legislation into the country’s constitution would grossly jeopardize civil liberties protection. According to the proposals contained in the TIPS provisions, the Liberties Union argue that it will be impossible to grant citizens and other American nationals the right to privacy as granted in the constitution. The fact that the Department of Homeland Security has express right over controlling infrastructure, a director at ACLU, Laura Murphy, maintained that the department was given superfluous powers over vital infrastructure thereby limiting the public from conducting any significant scrutiny (Sloan, 2008). According to the provisions in the Act, certain infrastructure information may not be availed to the public especially if the government presumes it unfit for purposes of national security. Indeed, one of the apparent weaknesses in the Act is the fact that any disclosure of the ‘critical infrastructure’ information by a government official may lead to heavy imposition of criminal offence on the offender. Hence, whistle blowers on certain matters directly affecting the American public may as well be branded ‘criminals’ since they will have contravened this law. The online privacy of individuals is also undermined at great length by this piece of legislation. The Center for Democracy and Technology argue that the Cyber Security Enhancement Act is a real setback to personal online privacy (Sloan, 2008). According to the provisions in this Act, the government has the right, through telecom companies, to access and retrieve personal online data such as internet transactions and emails. The government’s rationale behind this legal provision is that accessing such personal information is pertinent especially in the event that national security is at risk. For telecommunication companies, they have been quite reluctant to avail personal information unless there are cour t warrants to do so. Cyber criminals like those who hack computers may be sentenced to life imprisonment as a maximum charge. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is also permitted by this law to access and utilize intelligence materials courtesy of the office of TIA. William Safire, a New York Times columnist dismissed this legislative arrangement as â€Å"Big Brotherism†. At the same time, TIA was also limited by the Congress. The appropriations bill of the Congress also witnessed a heavily cut down of the TIA budget. In yet another separate but related developments about the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the indemnification provision has equally sparked widespread protests. This provision has it that class-action law suits filed by citizens against individual or corporate contractors are restricted up to some level. Although the provision does not favor individual citizens and American nationals interested in lodging their complaints against public health menace caus ed by contractors, the government argues that companies which manufacture lethal vaccines necessary in biological or chemical warfare should be given some incentives to continue with the tedious task of production. This, according to the government, will shield them from high liability overheads. Worse still, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 that led to the inception of the Department of Homeland Security has faced equally tough criticism from city mayors who lament that the Act failed to provide â€Å"money to cities to fight terrorism† (CNN Politics, 2002). In recap, it is pertinent to reiterate that the chemical industry is highly visible in the eyes of terrorists and is equally potentially dangerous upon attack by terrorists. It is therefore necessary for the federal government to reinforce anti-terror planning and strategies. Emphatically, It is also worth to note that there are certain pieces of ‘critical industrial information’ that may be instrumental in terrorist planning. However, rather than creating a cowed community, risky information should be utilized in such a way that it empowers the community. In spite of the growing concerns on industrial terrorism, the security status in the transportation sector is equally important since terrorists are well known to target industrial chemicals on transit. References Chess, C. (2001). Organizational theory and the stages of risk communication. Risk Analysis, 21(1), 179-188. CNN Politics (2003). Bush signs homeland security bill. Web. Heath, R. L., Bradshaw, J., Lee, J. (2002). Community relationship building: Local leadership in the risk communication infrastructure. Journal of Public Relations Research, 14, 17-353. Kosal, E.M. (2006). Terrorism Targeting Industrial Chemical Facilities: Strategic Motivations and the Implications for U.S. Security. Studies in Conflict Terrorism, 29, 719–751. Linden, V.E. (2007). Focus on Terrorism, Volume 9 New York: Nova Science Publishing Inc . Perrow, C. (2007). The Next Catastrophe: Reducing Our Vulnerabilities to Natural, Industrial and Terrorist Disasters. New Jersey: Princeton University Press. Sloan, E. (2008). Continental and homeland security: From Bush to Obama. International Journal, 64(1), 191-200.

National Stereotypes ESL Lesson Plan

National Stereotypes ESL Lesson Plan In a perfect world we would use national stereotypes less often. However, it is true that national stereotypes are used when discussing other countries and peoples. This subject often comes up in English classes and can be used to advantage to help ESL students reconsider their own use of national stereotypes. Use this lesson to encourage a healthy and open discussion of the topic, rather than shy away from the use of stereotypes in class. Stereotypes Lesson for ESL Students Aim: Discussion of stereotypes, explaining, improving character adjective vocabulary Activity: Discussion and comparison of national stereotypes Level: Intermediate to advanced Outline: Write the word Stereotype on the board and ask students what the word means. If students are unsure, help them by asking them to finish the phrase, All Americans... or something similar.Once students have understood the concept of what a stereotype is, ask them to mention a few of the stereotypes about their own country.Include a few provocative stereotypes of your own at this point in order to get students thinking about the negative or shallow aspects of thinking in stereotypes. Examples: American food is fast food or Americans love guns.Ask students to divide into pairs and choose two of the listed adjectives to describe each nationality. Tell them that they will need to explain their reasons for the adjectives provided.Go through the sheets asking different students to explain their reasoning for the adjectives they have chosen. Ask other students whether they agree or disagree to promote conversation.Once you have finished your discussion of stereotypes, ask students why stereo typing can be often be bad and which stereotypes of their own country or region they do not like. Ask them to explain why. As homework, have students write a short composition comparing their own region or country to another one. Ask them to include various stereotypes, as well as examples from their own experience that either confirm or refute the stereotypes they mention. Stereotypes Worksheet Prepare a worksheet with the content below to help your students further understand the concept of stereotyping. Choose two adjectives from the bulleted list that you think describe the nationalities mentioned below. Choose two countries of your own to describe. punctual              tolerantromanticrespectfulhard-workingemotionaloutgoingnationalisticwell-dressedhumorouslazysophisticatedhospitabletalkativesociableseriousquietformalaggressive  politerudearrogantignorantcasual American _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ British _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ French _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Japanese _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

Mosques in America Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mosques in America - Essay Example In order to develop a better understanding of the problem one should take a look at statistical dimension of Islam in the United States. Thus, the actual population of Muslims is two times larger that estimated one. In addition to that, the number of mosques increased greatly in the first decade of 2000. Moreover, the majority of mosques are relatively young: built less than 40 years ago. What is more important is that mosques in America feature a considerable amount of diversity. To begin with, it is not only Arabs, but various ethnic groups are represented in almost every mosque. Secondly, Shiite mosques which represent a second branch of Islam are also quite numerous in the United States. Thirdly, mosques can be found both in metropolitan areas and suburbs. As for the places which are used for a mosque, one should note that they include purchased, built or rented facility. The position of a mosque in the American society has had influence on its practices. It was found that mosques in the US preach flexible interpretation of Quran which is suitable for modern circumstances. The local spiritual leader feel general atmosphere of acceptable by the community. They also encourage Muslims to take active part in American society. Finally, the rate of conversion to Islam in the America reflects general interest to this religion. All in all, one might come to the following conclusions. First of all, the presence of Muslims in the American population may be more that it is estimated. Secondly, mosques were able to integrate successfully into American society. Finally, mosques reflect the diversity of the American social environment. This report contains all the necessary information that might be used to research the topic of a mosque in the United States. Another big advantage of it is the fact that the information that it is based on is relatively recent and reflects of the important cultural events that happened in the American society. The primary focus of

My Name Edwin Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

My Name Edwin - Essay Example The reason these relationships are no longer recognized is that, in many cases, the language in which the name originated falls out of use. Most of these names originated as descriptive terms of the person who bore them. These were typically collections of nouns and adjectives such as ‘Wulfgar’, which includes the still recognizable word ‘wolf’ combined with a once recognized word ‘gar’ which referred to a specific type of weapon. â€Å"Parents would choose names from the pool of existing names rather than invent new ones for their children. As time went on the language changed and in many cases the words that formed the original name passed out of use, leaving the fossilized form in the name. This is why we do not recognize the meanings of many names today† (Elliott, 1997). The name ‘Edwin’ is one of these names with an ancient history and meaning despite its relatively recent revival in modern use. According to the â€Å"Etymology of First Names† (2002), the name ‘Edwin’ is comprised of two Old English words ‘ead’ and ‘wine’ or sometimes ‘wyne’, which mean â€Å"rich or blessed† and â€Å"friend† respectively. Elliott (1997) disagrees slightly and defines ‘ead’ as meaning â€Å"prosperity, fortune, riches.† Thus, the name is translated to mean â€Å"rich friend†, â€Å"blessed friend† or â€Å"friend to prosperity† depending upon the translator’s conception of the word ‘ead.’ The name is considered a traditional name in German, Dutch, and English, but is generally agreed to have originated in Germany. Part of the reason for this is its connection with Old English. However, the name had to have once enjoyed a great deal of popularity as it eventually became the foundation for a particular surname depicting the reach it eventually gained. Evidence that the name was widespread exists in the appearance of the surname Edevane in Wales.â€Å"This surname is so rare as not to appear in the

Do Animals Have Language Essay Example for Free

Do Animals Have Language Essay Language is the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way(1) Language is humanitys way of communicating with each other, there are over 6,500 different languages spoken around the world. Every language is communicated by two or more people. Every person can have a combination of languages. It all depends on what that person chooses to do. Some individuals believe that there is no communication without language. But many like myself, beg to differ. As I believe there are numerous ways to communicate, whether it is by speech, symbols or sound. A few might argue that speech and sound are the same thing, to me they are completely different. Yes we need to make sounds that represent the letter that make up the word, but in some languages the sounds are the words. For example the Xhosa language; spoken by approximately 7.9 million people of the South African population, it is a tonal language. I believe that animals communicate using the same technique. I see that certain animals have a specific sound for their specie. For example a dogs bark, a cats meow, and the whales songs. They are all a series of sounds, to each other they are understood. Upon being put in the right sequence they convey the message to the other members of that specie. It is a language they use, that we cannot comprehend. The languages present here in Earth are very detailed and elaborate, because humans have a very complex life, they need a lot of words to make sense of it. Animals live very simple lives, needing to communicate when in danger, or directing others. That is why their languages are probably much more simpler than ours. Other animals communicate through dance, and movements. I consider this a language of its own, as these dances create symbols, and symbols are a language. This is still considered using language as a method of communication. So yes, I do believe animals have a language, through sounds. Although those language are most likely very simple, they are their way of communicating with each other. (1):http://www.google.com.sa/search?hl=ensafe=activesa=Xbiw=1280bih=596q=languagetbs=dfn:1tbo=uei=TbpMUMmDL4fvsgbWsYC4BAved=0CB0QkQ4

Criminal Sanction Essay -- Criminal Justice, Crime Control Model

Introduction The high level of activity in the criminal justice system and the resultant productivity arise from a range of interconnected beliefs that the implementation of criminal sanctions to offenders is an essential and useful means of holding up the existing moral and political order. That is to say, the criminal sanction can be deemed to be a reinforcer of the moral beliefs and social order. This paper, however, will look at both sides of the application of criminal sanction. ‘Used providently and humanely it is a guarantor of human freedom; used indiscriminately and coercively, it is a threatener.’ (Packer, 1968:366) Professor Packer uses his knowledge and understanding of the nature of criminal sanction largely to show how much it actually does threaten freedom; hence the arguments will revolve around this view. The essay aims to explain Packer’s quote and illustrate instances of criminal sanction as a ‘prime guarantor’ or ‘prime threatener’ of human freedom. The essay then goes to explain the rhetoric and the reality of justice and intends to point out the gap, which exists between the two. As Herbert Packer identified the law in books can be quite obsolete and detached from reality (Packer, 1968). His ideal models, namely due process and crime control, will be the cornerstone of the criminal justice evaluation. However, other models will be introduced and used to assess Packer’s imagery of value choices. In order to truthfully assess the character of justice alongside criminal sanction per se and be able to draw conclusions on how is justice manifested, this paper will succinctly look at several aspects of criminal justice process, including policing, prosecution and court procedures, and outside factors which sha... ... as meaningless. Instead, this model sees crime simply as an occasion for social intervention. The offenders are not regarded as responsible for their acts, but rather as products and in some instances the victims of events beyond their control (King, 1981). According to this perspective, free will and moral responsibility are sheer illusions. Therefore, instead of punishing people for engaging in criminal activities, society should discover ways of meeting their needs by ‘providing them with the requisite human social qualities for them to control their future behaviour and so convert them into law-abiding citizens’ (King 1981:19). This model goes back to the notion of a criminal law without criminal sanctions. It argues against the utilization of criminal sanctions, and considers it not useful in curbing crime, as well as a threatener to those subjected to it.

Juvenile delinquent Essay

In today’s society more and more juvenile delinquents are being charged as adults in the court systems. The youth are being condemned by a society that allows fear to control its decisions. In the film Juvies narrated by actor Mark Wahlberg, a former juvenile offender, the lives of a group of young kids who are sentenced for many years or life are told. Throughout the film the group explains why they did what they did and how they wished they could have done it differently. One of the kids, a fourteen year old by the name of Anait, was sentenced for seven years. She had driven a group of boys to a high school where they then fought and killed another boy. Anait was charged with accessory to murder because she was the one that was driving the car. Another kid by the name of Duc was sentenced for 35 years, at the age of 16. He had no prior record, wasn’t a gang member but he was affiliated with a gang. He had driven a car that took part in a shooting, and even though no o ne was injured he was still found guilty. I feel, as do many others, that our court system has become much too harsh when it comes to punishing the youth. There is a difference when being tough on crime and giving kids punishments that do not fit the crime. More and more of today’s youth are being sent to adult prisons where they cannot be protected. In a juvenile prison, kids are given second chances. There they learn to right their ways and are sent back out in society where hopefully they will become responsible adults. In adult prisons however, its survival of the fittest. There is no protection for those kids and no one to guide them on the right path. Statistics show that kids sentenced to adult prisons are more likely to end up back behind bars within five years of being released or committing suicide. The media plays a big part in condemning these children. The media has demonized them and the crimes that they commit. Court systems have started to charge more for what could have happened rather than what did happen. Duc is an example of this. He was charged for a crime that wasn’t committed but could have been. Children should not be tried as adults because they cannot think as adults do. Science shows that a person’s brain is not fully developed until their early twenties. The cortex is still developing and this is the part of the brain that controls emotions and impulse. This is why children are more likely to get hotheaded more easily than if they were adults. If a child is not taught how to control his/her emotions than when they become adults these emotions will become harder to manage. Charging young children as adults does more harm than good. Some people feel that if you are going to commit crimes of an adult than you should be charged as an adult. However, a child does not think like an adult nor do they know how to relieve their emotions is a healthy non destructive way. People like Gregory Boyle, Geoffrey Canada, and Aaron Kipnis want to help these kids rather than convict them for the rest of their lives. Children need guidance from responsible adults, especially men. Many boys end up in prison because they never had a dependable male role model in their lives. They don’t feel wanted or accepted, so they find it by other means. They look to gangs to feel like they belong somewhere. There are other approaches that do not involve scaring kids with the threat of prison or punishing them for years. One of these approaches is restorative justice. Offenders are forced to take responsibility for what they have done. Not only do they have to confront their issues but they also get help. Another approach is guiding boys on the pathway to becoming a man. These are just some ways in which to save these boys from destroying their lives. There are so many children, both boys and girls that need help. They need friends, family, love, hope, and trust. They need someone that they can look up to and have faith in. Someone who they know won’t hurt them or throw them to the side when they make mistakes. With both discipline and direction, children from bad backgrounds can grow up and live crime free lives.

Mobile Phone and Samsung Electronics

Clarence Powell Liberty University MMGP Background Information BUSI520 – Group 3 November 4, 2012 Samsung Galaxy S3 Introduction In this paper we shall explore The Traditional 4P’s which are, product place, promotion and price; while also examining and understanding the new 4P’s on which we have today: -people, processes, programs, and performance – while determining which is more effective for future business and long term success for the company. We will analyze Samsung Electronics and provide information regarding the company’s background and its newest product: The Samsung Galaxy S3.Galaxy S3 Description From caveman to modern man is a phrase in which we can use to describe our evolution of mobile technology. The initial purpose of mobile technology was to connect with people while being on the go or having the ability to connect without a line. However, today modern technology purposes are to connect and facilitate our lives. Before, phones wer e kind of used for card game, calculators, and time; before, even less than those features. Now days we have Internet, mobile banking, millions of games, task management, etc.Before features were just a line of numbers going a cross, which was considered your screen. Now, we have full-blown screens that you can just touch and it is considered a button replacing the traditional methods for dialing. Today we have my version of first class smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S3, based upon vast reviews named the Samsung Galaxy S3 is named one of the hottest phones on the Android market. Based on what people must have and desire this phone has played its part in making completion step there game up.As, for its features The Samsung Galaxy S3 body is thin in shape and this is good especially since people want a phone they can put in there pocket and not worry about it taking up space, as for its look it is sleek and a more comfortable grip if you have had a Samsung phone before then you know that this is a plus. As for the display this phone has a 4. 8-inch screen, which is awesome if you are one who love this video chat on Skype or oovoo. Holding this phone in my hand you could actually see how the HD AMOLD screen actually enhanced clarity for the screen.It has a front camera that is 1. 9 megapixels which is not the best however, it gets the job done while video chatting. As for the rear-facing camera it has an 8. 0-megapixel camera that is great. If you enjoy phone photography you are able to take 8 photo shots in one burst, which is also nice. (http://www. samsung. com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I747MBBATT-features). Most people like it’s Pop-up Play, Touch Wiz, and Smart Unlock feature; however the ability to charge wirelessly to me is the best feature ever. Reason why?We all hate the hassles of charging a phone so the idea of eliminating wires makes charging a phone feel like heaven. What’s also great is the S Beam technology, which allows users to tra nsfer content by the backs of two phones. Samsung Electronics is pushing to cross over Apple users to their product. Product & Firm History Unlike other electronic companies Samsung origins were not involving electronics but other products. In 1938 the Samsung's founder Byung-Chull Lee set up a trade export company in Korea, selling fish, vegetables, and fruit to China.Within a decade Samsung had flourmills and confectionary machines and became a co-operation in 1951. Humble beginnings. From 1958 onwards Samsung began to expand into other industries such as financial, media, chemicals and shipbuilding throughout the 1970's. In 1969, Samsung Electronics was established producing what Samsung is most famous for, Televisions, Mobile Phones (throughout 90's), Radio's, Computer components and other electronics devices. The history of Samsung and mobile phones stretches back to over 10 years.In 1993 Samsung developed the ‘lightest' mobile phone of its era. The SCH-800 and it was ava ilable on CDMA networks. Then they developed smart phones and a phone combined mp3 player towards the end of the 20th century. To this date Samsung are dedicated to the 3G industries. Making video, camera phones at a speed to keep up with consumer demand. Samsung has made steady growth in the mobile industry and are currently second but competitor Nokia is ahead with more than 100% increase in shares. (http://www. samsung-mobiles. net/history-of-samsung. tml) The Traditional 4Ps The product of the traditional 4Ps is the Samsung Galaxy S3. The price of the smartphone is $199 on SPRINT when purchased with a two-year contract and $549 when purchased the phone straight up. Promotions include online discounts; commercial adds online, television, radio, or word of mouth. Places would include Internet and in stores for targeted locations. The New 4Ps The new 4Ps of marketing are people, processes, programs, and performance. The people include people who are interested in smart phones.Proce sses are their and its strong deliver of research and the way they present their product for development. The programs would be apps, and games. The performance Samsung has made more than a billion in sales last year. Demographic and Economic Trends & the Samsung Galaxy S3 There has also been a rise in numbers on purchases of non contract phones considering that contract phones have been could go up or down in prices depending on the company. Samsung is presenting itself in any category it can because this promotes success for the company.Being able to sell contracted phones is a way to keep revenue flowing with in the company by producing cheaper products and higher bills along with cancelation fees. Because of the rise in non-contracted phones and the decrease in economic revenue. Samsung has branched out producing product for consumers however, producing higher priced product and but lower bills for the consumer. Our current economy has caused many consumers money to decline when it comes to terms of having money to spend on things we want.Therefore causing people to resort to places such as craigslist, eBay, and other resources to get a lesser price. A lot of people are resorting to buying smart phones such as the Galaxy S3 due to the fact that it has the ability to be a phone, computer, personal assistant, bank etc. Therefore, causing people to lose their sociability when having face-to-face interactions. (Meuter, Ostrom, Roundtree, & Bitner,  2000, p. 51). Technological Trends & the Samsung Galaxy S3Technology has been on an upward increase to produce product that are smaller in size however, larger in scale when it comes to its capabilities for facilitating our lives. Samsung Galaxy S3, provides apps that allow you to swipe a credit card and put that money in your bank if you are a business man, turn on the lights and television in your house, even monitor security systems and providing wireless connectivity as a router if you prefer using you lap top on the go. Social and Cultural Factors We have all wanted the next new thing; what others call â€Å"keeping up with the Jones†.Cultural and social factors that drive a person to purchase a certain type of phone would include: people, the individuality in a person, and the desire to have the newest phone that hit the market. Even more, Samsung values doing research for the development of its product and the medium that they are targeting so you can rest assure there are different medias in which we all were potentially driven from to buy their products. References (http://www. samsung-mobiles. net/history-of-samsung. html) (http://www. samsung. com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I747MBBATT-features) (Meuter, Ostrom, Roundtree, & Bitner,  2000, p. 51).

The concepts of what is bad and what is evil Essays

The concepts of what is bad and what is evil Essays The concepts of what is bad and what is evil Essay The concepts of what is bad and what is evil Essay In todays society, there is a tendency to associate the concepts of what is bad and what is evil. Only in cases of acute malevolence are we inclined to delineate evil as the more severe condemnation. The only certainty in popular morality is an opposition between the forces of good and evil. In The Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of Morals, Kant discusses his definitions of good and morality. He touches on what he considers to be bad, and he makes a slight discrepancy between bad and evil. In his article, A Kantian Theory of Evil, Ernesto Garcia elaborates on Kants work by asserting the theory that evil is distinctly different from ordinary immoral acts. Garcia begins his article by discussing our general inclination to regard evil acts as things that more deeply offend than simple misconduct, such as rape, murder, or brutal torture. However, he argues that this view simply reduces the difference between evil and immoral acts to a mere quantitative analysis. In other words, we commonly view these types of actions as simply being really bad. Garcia argues that there is indeed a difference between just bad and genuinely evil, something deeper than what Kant originally discussed. Kant discriminates between bad and evil by defining bad as a means to take [an action] as somehow harmful or disagreeable to ones general well-being. He then defines evil as a means to take some action as morally wrong, resulting not from natural contingency, but rather, from a direct act of the agents will. In this way, self-love overtakes the concept of morality, and makes a person almost inhuman. Garcia disagrees. He says that this definition puts evil under the general heading of immoral actions, so if we use Kant as our guide, evil has no unique properties distinct from immorality. Garcia stands behind the theory that evil has a definition that fuses aspects of Kants definition of both moral and immoral actions. It then becomes a mutant that goes directly and purposely against the human will, which Garcia says is a concept that Kant himself never explored. In earlier works, Kant says that we all act using certain principles of action. Fundamentally, it is the principle we choose to utilize that determines the actions status, not the end result. He claims that humanity is the ultimate goal. It provides a guideline for our actions, requiring us to renounce certain actions while simultaneously acting in agreement with it. However, in Fundamentals, Kant introduces a new idea into his theory one in which he identifies two distinct things that must happen with moral action: humanity is the mandatory end that must not be defied, and our own personal happiness must coincide with virtue. This description of morality differs greatly from Kants description of immorality. Here he makes the distinction between acts that are heteronymous and those that are immoral. He says that there are only two guidelines for our actions as humans: self-love and the universal principle of morality, which he characterizes as the maxim of your will [always holding] at the same time as a principle in the giving of universal law. He clarifies immoral acts as not only something a person does out of context with universal law, but also something he or she creates and defends as universal for personal means to an end. In this way, he suggests that self-love provides a strength superior to moral law itself. Here is where Garcia intervenes. He says that in immoral actions, our actions have a specific end that only uses another person indirectly to reach, and that this end is purely a personal goal. Garcia proposes that in evil actions, one purposely seeks to directly infringe upon the humanity of another human being. Kant, however, never imagined such was possible. Garcia says that here is where the hybridization of Kantian definitions of morality and immorality occurs. Formally, they are comparable to immoral actions, but materially they are similar to moral ones. Evil action includes a formal objective in addition to humanity, although the purpose undermines humanity itself. Also, similar to Kants definition of immoral acts, self-love wins over the principle of morality. Garcia writes that evil can be seen as a kind of perverse mimicry of moral action, where humanity is indeed treated as an end in itself, but now for immoral acts of the will. Here, Garcia gives an example of this notion of evil: apathy towards destructing another human beings humanity. For instance, Adolf Eichmann sent thousands of Jewish men, women, and children to their deaths. He then attempted to justify it by claiming that he was just following orders. Although he followed both his orders and the judicial law by telling the police, it unnerves us as humans to see such blatant disregard for humanity. Eichmann destroyed lives and never looked back. A second example is realized in describing the evil of racism. It isnt so much the taunting or the slurs, but our feelings that one race truly is superior to the other. At this point, the value of humanity is not ignored. The challenger just chooses to deny that the members of the alternative race are, in fact, human. However, in this case, we cannot claim that we are just following orders, so in essence this type of evil involves a good amount of self-deception as well. This theory of the definition of evil holds true historically as well as modernly. Whether a matter of self-love or the disregard for Gods will, it deprives us of our being, our selves. And not only that, but it makes human life a means for our own agenda. By doing this, we have created an entirely new level of immorality, something much deeper and much more inhuman. Innately, we all have the desire to be happy and to do well. However, sometimes our love of self takes over and convinces us that using others to get what we want or what we need is acceptable. We are then morally corrupted, and that natural incentive has begun to dehumanize us. Therein lies the distinction between immorality, and pure evil.

These Are the 5 Worst Problems with College Boards AP Program

These Are the 5 Worst Problems with College Board's AP Program SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips We’ve talked a lot about the AP Program in the past – why you would take AP classes, how many you should take, and how AP compares to the IB program. But what are some of the major problems with the AP program?In this guide, we'll go over the top five worst problems that the College Board and the AP program are dealing with. We will also explain how you can avoid these problems and get the most out of your AP courses. The Top 5 Problems With Advanced Placement As a brief disclaimer, we don't expect the Advanced Placement program to be perfect, and there are many benefits to taking AP classes, as we've covered in the past. That said, by covering some of the weaknesses of the AP program, we hope to help students make more informed decisions about their schedules, especially in the midst of today's intense college admissions environment. Problem 1: More Tests Taken = More Failed Tests The AP Program is growing too fast for all the new programs to be supported, especially at low-income schools, leading to more failed tests than anything else. As we’ve discussed in the past, the ultimate goal of taking an AP class is to pass the AP test at the end of the year – if you don’t, you’ve basically wasted the $92 you spent on the exam. So it’s a problem if most of the AP growth in recent years comes from failed exams. College Board often celebrates the results of the fast-growing AP Program – nearly 5 million tests were taken in 2017, for example. However, the flip side to this is that with new AP classes and programs come growing pains, especially in schools that don’t have a lot of funding for new AP programs. It takes a few years for a class to really settle in at a high school, and for a teacher to get used to the AP curriculum. It can take a few years for a teacher to master a curriculum. This takes even longer in low-income schools – explaining why a lot of the growth has come in the form of failed AP tests (you can see how the average test score has fallen over time here). A report from Inside Higher Ed looks at this phenomenon: â€Å"The data also show, however, a more than doubling in the number of AP examinees who only achieve test scores of less than 3 on the exam. (Typically a score of three is the minimum required for college credit, and critics of the program have said that increases in the number of sub-3 scores suggest many students may not be gaining from the courses, a contention disputed by the College Board.) These figures grew from 182,429 to 395,925 during the last decade. Likewise, the number of AP exams with scores of less than 3 also more than doubled, from 521,620 to 1,345,988. The data also show significant gaps in participation rates and success rates (scores of 3 and higher) on the AP exams, by racial and ethnic group. White and Asian students are more likely to participate and to get good scores. Black students are much less likely to do so.† In other words, people are questioning how good the expansion of the AP program actually is if it just means more students are failing AP exams every year. There have been concerns for years among teachers about the program growing too fast, and schools being too lax about which students get to take AP. A 2009 survey of 1,000 AP teachers found that "more than half are concerned that the program’s effectiveness is being threatened as districts loosen restrictions on who can take such rigorous courses and as students flock to them to polish their rà ©sumà ©s." In short, there are thousands of students winding up with failed AP tests each year – which is no good for them or their schools. You could argue that the experience of taking an AP class helps students prepare for college, but the fact remains that rapid expansion is not leading to the best outcomes for many students. Problem 2: Too Much Material, Too Little Time Even though many courses have been revamped, AP still tends to be seen as a shallow, memorization-based program, in comparison to IB and home-grown curriculums at other schools. In one blistering critique of AP classes in The Atlantic, a former teacher writes: "the AP program leads to rigid stultification." He complains that by requiring so much material, AP classes lose depth and the opportunity for meaningful learning. Another study, reported in KQED, finds that â€Å"AP courses don’t always teach critical thinking skills or allow students to explore topics more deeply. Instead, they often turn into a race to cover a wide expanse of information, some say.† Okay, this is a slight exaggeration, but you would be surprised at the size of some AP textbooks. This is especially true in contrast to IB, which explicitly focuses on developing critical thinking and writing skills. By requiring students seeking an IB diploma to write an extended research essay, take a class about theories of knowledge, and including more writing on the exams, the IB program emphasizes critical thinking, research, and writing in the way AP classes simply don’t have time for. Even in places where the AP program has revamped classes, like biology, concerns remain. A Washington Post article notes: â€Å"The new curriculum will encourage more work in science labs and less parroting back of formulas, more work on historical thinking and less memorization of historical minutiae. That all sounds pretty good. But it will do little to improve teaching and learning, especially at schools with low-levels of instructional and administrative capacity.Merely asking teachers to spend less time drilling and more time promoting inquiry, in other words, does not make them able to do so, nor does it prepare their students to succeed in such classes.† A New York Times article further explains why it can be hard for teachers to switch over from drilling to experiments and critical inquiry: â€Å"While Ms. Vangos believes the program could inspire students who â€Å"like to think outside the box,† she worries that the new math requirements will discourage others. And with so many cutbacks these days in education budgets, she says, the need to improve lab facilities at many public schools 'is absolutely going to pose a big problem.' Labs in resource-strapped urban schools often don’t have enough of even basic tools, like dissecting microscopes, for their students.† In short, it’s hard to balance the fact that AP courses tend to pack in tons of material with a desire to emphasize critical thinking and accessibility. Especially in schools without many resources. At the end of the day, if you’re in an AP course, you’ll likely find yourself spending more time drilling definitions with flashcards than, say, conducting experiments or reading novels. The new AP Capstone program does attempt to rectify some of these issues. Read more about it here. Problem 3: You Won't Always Get the College Credit You're Expecting The AP Program might not lead to the college credit you want for two reasons. First, AP classes often aren’t always as rigorous as their actual college equivalents, and some colleges are getting stingy about granting AP credit. Again in The Atlantic, the former teacher argues AP classes aren’t actually equivalent to college-level courses: â€Å"Before teaching in a high school, I taught for almost 25 years at the college level, and almost every one of those years my responsibilities included some equivalent of an introductory American government course. The high-school AP course didn't begin to hold a candle to any of my college courses. My colleagues said the same was true in their subjects.† Additionally, in college, your AP course doesn’t always grant you credit. Sometimes it just gets you out of your department's intro courses – which you might want to take anyway to get a more solid understanding of the material. It can be hard to replicate the college experience in a high school classroom. It’s important to note that many schools – particularly large public universities – will give you credit for AP, especially for gen-ed courses. To look at an example of a public university, at the University of Utah (my local state school) you can get tons of AP credit, enough to knock out your general education requirements in high school. However, many private colleges, especially top-tier ones, are shying away from granting AP credit. For some schools, credit policies are drawn on departmental lines. Math and science AP courses get credit more often than History or English. To look at one example of a top-tier school, Princeton, you can get into harder history courses with excellent AP US or World History scores, but you won’t get credit for your high scores. Meanwhile, at Dartmouth, AP courses will no longer be used to grant any credit at all, though they will get students into higher-level classes. I can also speak to AP credit not panning out. Even though I took nine AP classes, and got seven 5’s and two 4’s, none of them got me class credit at Stanford, since Stanford mostly accepts AP credit from math, science, and language classes. However, those AP classes did a lot to help me prepare for Stanford classes – in fact most of my college study skills came from AP classes. In short, if you’re taking AP classes, you should get used to the fact that even though the classes will help prepare you for college, they might not get you credit once you get there. Problem 4: Students Are Overloading Another problem with AP isn’t so much due to the program itself, but how students (and parents!) react to it. Across the country, students are overloading themselves, thinking that taking ten AP classes is the ticket to a selective school. This leads to stressed-out, burned-out students. Plus, taking AP classes doesn’t even guarantee admission into schools like Harvard and Stanford. Some educators describe AP courses as kind of an â€Å"arms race,† where as certain students take more AP classes, others feel pressured to load up with more to compete. Local newspapers have run lots of articles over the last five years about students feeling the need to overload on AP classes. When students overload, they’re much more likely to get overwhelmed by the work and get lower scores on the exams. It also adds to the enormous amounts of stress associated with today’s college admission process. Problem 5: It Can Exacerbate Education Inequality While AP has often been touted as an equalizing force in education, it tends to just perpetuate unequal outcomes. Well-prepared and well-funded students do well on AP tests, and students from less wealthy schools do worse, so the AP program often reinforces education inequality. College Board often touts AP’s expansion into various public and low-income schools as a victory for education. The truth is that low-income schools often struggle to successfully implement AP programs and get students to pass the exams. So what ends up happening is that, similar to the SAT/ACT, the tests simply reinforce the status quo: students at well-funded schools do well, students at less well-funded schools struggle. Plus, the bigger the program gets, the less power it has to set students apart. Inside Higher Edexplores this phenomenon: â€Å"Consequently, their efforts, while well-intended, never address the underlying problems that affect school quality and educational equity †¦.the expansion of the AP Program failed to promote real parity between the educational haves and have-nots. Because once the AP Program reached a critical mass, it lost its functionality as a mark of distinction. Soon, scores of colleges and universities (Dartmouth being the latest) revised their policies around awarding credit for AP coursework or favoring it in admissions reviews. And ultimately, elite suburban and private schools began to drop the program, calling it outdated, overly-restrictive, and too oriented toward multiple choice tests. Thus, while students at Garfield High in East Los Angeles were for a short time doing the same work as students at Andover, the aim of equity proved a noble and elusive dream.† In short, the AP program isn’t living up to its promise of leveling the education playing field in the US. It’s even having the strange effect of causing certain private schools to drop AP and create their own advanced courses – making AP seem less special in the college admissions process. I’m not saying it’s the AP program’s responsibility to fix educational inequality in the US – education inequality is an enormous problem. It will take much more than just one program to fix it. That said, I think it’s important to evaluate how successful programs actually are in trying to fix the problem – especially if they claim to be part of the solution. So Should You Take AP Classes? Given these problems, should you totally give up on AP? After reading through all of those issues you may be having second thoughts. Not necessarily. I still think the AP program can be a great fit for many students. These are the steps you should take to make sure you get the most out of the program, despite its flaws. #1: Take the Hardest Classes at Your School We’ve looked at problems the AP has nationally, but the reality is you still need to take the hardest classes at your school if you’re looking to get into top colleges. That means you should still take AP classes if your school offers them and you're hoping for a top school but do not overload on them. Meet with your guidance counselor to talk about putting together a challenging mix of your school’s classes that doesn’t overload on AP – especially if your school’s AP program isn’t stellar. (Ask your guidance counselor about the pass rates your AP teachers achieve on the exams, and how often they notice students switching out of AP classes, to get a sense of how good the program is at your school.) If you’re aiming for top schools, your goal is to have a transcript that your counselor will report as â€Å"most rigorous† on the Common App guidance counselor report. If your school has AP, this means that, in most cases, you’ll need to take AP classes. But it doesn't mean you have to take every single AP course your school offers. If you overload, you risk stretching yourself too thin. It’s better to pass two AP tests than to fail four! Also make sure that for any AP class you take, you have solid pre-requisite courses under your belt. (For example, don't take AP Biology without having taken an introductory biology class first.) #2: Match Your AP Courses to Your Goals Do you want to get into a top-tier school? Or are you more interested in skipping general ed requirements at your state school and graduating college early? Your answers to these questions can help you decide which AP classes are worth your effort, and which ones aren’t. If you know what your goals are, you can create a smart AP program for you. For example, if you’re trying to avoid general education classes at your local state school, look up which AP courses fulfill these requirements at your state school, and focus on doing well in those. To take just one example, this may mean choosing to take AP Calculus over AP Art History if you’re looking to complete your college math credit in high school – even if you love art! If you’re aiming for a top school, look at AP courses that allow you to explore your interests and show your academic strengths. To continue our example, this may mean taking AP Art History instead of AP Calculus to demonstrate your interest in the fine arts and humanities. #3: Avoid Common Pitfalls First of all, don’t load up on APs just to have AP classes all over your transcript. Take the right number for you. If this means taking fewer AP classes than your friends, so be it! Remember to pick out classes with your own goals in mind. Also, don’t underestimate the exam – you have to study to pass the AP test, even if you think the class is easy! Getting an A in an AP class but getting a 1 on 2 on the exam looks bad. Make sure to take at least two full practice exams before the real thing. Finally, continue to develop your other interests in high school. Don’t take 10 AP classes but sacrifice a key extracurricular or studying for the SAT/ACT. Remember AP classes are just one factor of an advanced high school experience. #4: Focus on the Positive Although we’ve talked a lot about problems with the AP program, I still think it’s a great way to prepare for college. You can get a lot out of AP – by learning to study on your own, developing self-discipline, and mastering challenging material. At the end of the day, how much you get out of AP classes will depend on how much effort you put in. Despite the numerous problems with AP on a national level, and uneven courses at my local high school, I’m really glad I took nine AP classes in high school. By developing my own study schedules before the tests, I honed my self-discipline and study skills. The writing fluency skills I gained from numerous AP history and English courses were also super helpful in college when I found myself with several essays to write at the end of every quarter. In short, even if the AP program leaves something to be desired at your school, you can still use it to develop your skills. Keep in mind that could mean doing extra studying outside of class and taking studying matters into your own hands. What’s Next? Thinking you should take IB classes instead? Get a comparison of the IB and AP programs. While you might think AP is the key to college, think again. Read about how a high ACT/SAT score is the single most important key to improving your admissions chances. Need some help with your ACT/SAT studying? Check out 21 SAT tricks you should be using, and find out the hidden hints in the ACT instructions. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: