Aarron Beck essays

Aarron Beck essays Dr. Aaron T. Beck MD, a psychotherapist, is considered one the most influential people in modern cognitive psychology and is known as the Father of Cognitive Therapy. Cognitive psychology is the study of peoples mental processes between a stimulus and a response. Cognitive psychologists investigate a person is capability to perceive, work out, and solve problems through insight and the use of their memory. Similar to the operations of a computer, a human is able to gain information, process and store it, and then be able to retrieve the information for future use. Becks interest in cognitive psychology can be traced back to when he was eight years old when he encountered a life-threatening staff infection that indefinitely altered his personality. Beck was brought up as a typical middle-class young boy, born the youngest of three sons into a Russian Jewish immigrant family on July 18, 1921 in Providence, Rhode Island. His father was a printer who took pride in his socialist ideals; while his mother was extremely overbearing and known for her shameful mood swings. His two older brothers had died before he was born. Before Beck became ill, he was involved in athletics and the boy scouts. However, after he became a much more introverted person who preferred reading to playing sports and developed a fear of blood, hospitals, and doctors. This fear left him feeling ill just thinking about any of these things and this troubled young Beck. He knew at an early age that this was an unhealthy way to live. He decided to change this about him and gradually broke himself of this phobia through rational thinking. Every time he would come upon a situation that would make him feel uncomfortable, he would keep himself busy and would use rational reasoning why he should not feel threatened. He gradually helped himself overcome his fear through his process of using rational thoughts to overcome his fears instead of ...

How Bias Influences Critical Thinking Essays - Critical Thinking

How Bias Influences Critical Thinking Essays - Critical Thinking How Bias Influences Critical Thinking CRT/205 February 23, 2014 Captain E.F. Rollins How Bias Influences Critical Thinking I recently made a decision about a persons character. At work, we have an onsite caf which is managed by an outside company. The manager of the caf is not well liked by some employees of my company and most employees of the company that manages the caf. I had not had any direct dealings with him so did not have an opinion one way or another. A few weeks ago, one of the chefs decided to leave the employment of this company. When this young man told his manager he was leaving, the manager very rudely told him he was making a huge mistake. Also, around the same time I learned that this manager had fired another of his workers without cause. All of this, of course, was relayed to me from a coworker. I had no first-hand knowledge or concrete facts but still changed my opinion of this manager to one of strong dislike. Automatically, I thought this manager to be rude, egotistical, and insensitive. I was willing to believe these negative things about this manager which is negativity bias (Un iversity of Phoenix, 2012). While all of these things may be true, I allowed negative remarks made by someone else to color my decision. If these are not true, I have come to an incorrect conclusion about this manager. Since I do not have any facts to back up a decision one way or another regarding this manager, I should not be making a decision one way or another. REFERENCES University of Phoenix. (2012). What is critical thinking, anyway? Retrieved from University of Phoenix, CRT205 - Critical Thinking website.

Organizational Behavior Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8

Organizational Behavior - Essay Example The study happens at three levels; individual level, group level and organization level. At these levels, we are able to deduct the individual differences, perceptions, and behaviors on how workers relate and how the organization is run (Bauer & Erdogan 40). This brings about role clarity, information passage and performance feedback amongst the workforce. Organizational behavior can be spilt and studied under three different concepts, the organizational culture, diversity and communication. Organizational culture is a set of given assumptions, values, norms, beliefs and work language habits that lead the employees on appropriate and inappropriate behaviors in the organization. It strongly influences how employees conduct themselves, dress, work, behave and also the organization’s performance. Hence, it controls and manages employees’ behaviors while working. Often, it acts as a competitive advantage indicator; therefore, it gauges the competition between two different organizations. According to the different policies, set firms will perform differently and hence the difference in productivity, which brings different outputs and feedbacks. Organizational diversity is the understanding of similarities and differences in the workforce of the organization at its different departments with regard to gender, race, age, education, functional background and other characteristics. It mainly aims at enhancing the effectiveness of employees’ work regardless of whether male or female, the race, young or old, and field of work. Diversity brings about high creativity in decision making, service to customer, better understanding, satisfied workforce and high performance in marketing of the products (Bauer & Erdogan 44). As a result, this leads to high company performance, more creative and satisfied workforce that may also lead to the globalization of the business through widening of the business to different parts of the world despite the people who live

Exercise 6-1 Remote Power Mower System Assignment

Exercise 6-1 Remote Power Mower System - Assignment Example They can be used electromagnetically and the relay can only be used a number of specified times before the cycle fails. Relay allows low power light duty switch to actuate the starter circuit without using directly to the starter (Scwalbe 144). If the mower start circuit does not contain a relay, heavy duty wiring will have to be wired to the start switch, or it would potentially pose a fatal shock hazard and also prone to electrical arcing. It also includes embodiments to provide use in all seasons, including a spreader, wagon, detaches, trimmer, and a slow blade. The remote control mower allows the operator to stay far away for the sake of injury prevention. The deliverable in a work breakdown structure is divided into tasks and components put together to achieve it. In our case, the project is made up of two main parts which are the Remote Control Unit and the Vehicle Unit. These two units are found at the first level and the breakdown of the units goes into the second and third levels. Moreover, there are other such units which are the core of the project and cannot be placed in the second or third level (Scwalbe 154). Level two is made up of deliverables that are clearly tangible and recognizable. The other levels consist of activities and tasks that build up on the project. The remote control unit is used in controlling the Remote Power Motor System (RPM) through the use of different components. The key project milestones are put together in level two of the project. In this case, we put together the following sections: Training, Budget Control, Data Management and Project Management. These sections must be implemented using a bottom up approach. The Project Manager is responsible for the control and overall supervision of the project. Therefore, he/she is in charge of project management which is placed at level two of the project. Other essential services that should be placed at level two include data management, budget control and training.

Homework 4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Homework 4 - Essay Example entified that; organization is a place where in different departments work together in order to contribute in the long run productivity of the company as a whole (Beasley, M et al. 2009). Marketing department is one of the most important departments from the standpoint of an organization because it usually deals with the inflow and outflow of funds of a company. There are certain things that come under the ambit of marketing management. The main perspective of this assignment is to analyze the thing accordingly and by applying regression tools on the same. The company which has been chosen for the same is Ashland Multicomm Services, which is a internet service provider with telephone cables and internet cables. Forecasting is one of the most important things from the standpoint of a company and from the standpoint of a thing is well. Forecasting is the process of making statements about events whose actual outcomes (typically) have not yet been observed. A commonplace example might be estimation of some variable of interest at some specified future date. Prediction is a similar, but more general term. Both might refer to formal statistical methods employing time series, cross-sectional or longitudinal data, or alternatively to less formal judgmental methods. The forecasting process which has been judge by the company is not at all perfect and it is under severe criticism because the company has not judge and measures the consequences of the project on the company’s productivity. There are number of things which can be taken into consideration, other than that the telemarketing hours spending, which predominantly are the effects of the same on the net profit and revenue recognition of the company as a whole. The company has to consider the effects of the same in total, merely to analyze the same. A statistical measure that attempts to determine the strength of the relationship between one dependent variable (usually denoted by Y) and a series of other

Sickle Cell Anemia: Treatment and Effects

Sickle Cell Anemia: Treatment and Effects Sickle cell anemia is an inherited genetic blood disorder characterized by bouts of intense pain, organ damage, infection, depleted oxygen levels and at times premature death. Although it has come to be known as a disease that affects mainly people of African decent; affliction with sickle cell anemia has also been observed in those individuals with ancestry stemming from parts of the Middle East, India, Latin America, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. The genetic aspect of the disease is as such; one gene for the illness must be inherited from both parents for that person to be determined to have sickle cell disease. Therefore, a person with sickle cell disease has inherited one mutated copy for the trait from both of its parents. The mutated trait that leads to sickle cell disease impacts the creation of hemoglobin by the body. In a normal individual without the sickle cell trait or disease, they create hemoglobin A (HbA). However, in persons with sickle cell disease, their bone marrow creates a form of hemoglobin called hemoglobin S (HbS). It is the creation of Hb(S) that causes the formation of abnormal red blood cells. In a healthy individual, the red blood cells are usually disc-shaped but with Hb(S), the red blood cells have a stretched out sickle shaped appearance (Figure 1). Although it has been around for hundreds of years, sickle cell anemia was only scientifically observed in the early 1900s when in 1910 Dr. James B. Herrick noted the presence of sickle cells in the blood of Walter C. Noel. Further scientific study showed that the sickling of the red blood cells was related to low blood oxygen. Major advancements into the study of sickle cell anemia were first achieved in 1949 by Dr. Linus Pauling who postulated that the hemoglobin produced by those with sickle cell disease was abnormal and secondly by Vernon Ingram who in 1959 discovered that the difference between Hb(S) and Hb(A) was a single amino-acid substitution in the ÃŽÂ ²-polypeptide chain (ÃŽÂ ²6Glu à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Val)(Wikipedia). Other scientists followed this line of thinking (Figure 2) and found that this switch in the ÃŽÂ ²-polypeptide chain was due to a substitution of thymine for adenine in the DNA codon for Glu (GAG à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ GTG). This was the first example in any species of the effects of a mutation on a protein (ibid). Genetics of Sickle Cell Sickle cell anemia, like other traits such as height, hair and eye color is an inherited attribute. Both parents must be carriers of these particular traits in order to pass on copies of these genes to their offspring. In the case of sickle cell which is an inherited autosomal recessive point mutation (see Figure 3), the hemoglobin beta gene (HBB) that is located on chromosome 11p.15.5 is affected. The mutation that affects this gene is the direct result of a glutamate being substituted for a valine. This exchange of the ÃŽÂ ²-globin gene occurs in the sixth codon of the HBB gene and signifies that the disorder is caused by a single mutation in the nucleotide, an A to T changeover resulting in a GAG to a GTG sequence (see Figure 4). The substitution of the glutamate for valine causes a Figure 4change to the structure and the function of the HBB gene and causes it to produce structurally abnormal hemoglobin (Hb), called hemoglobin S; HbS (National Center for Biotechnology).The importance of Hb is that it serves as an oxygen carrying protein that gives red blood cells their characteristic color (ibid). As previously stated, the allele responsible for causing sickle cell anemia is autosomal recessive and can be found on the short arm of chromosome 11 (Wikipedia). This means that an individual that has been diagnosed with sickle cell disease has received both copies of the mutated gene from their parents who each carry one copy of the mutated gene. Sickle Cell Anemia and the Malaria Influence In understanding the genetics of sickle cell anemia, it is important to recognize the role in which the mosquito born disease malaria played in the high incidences of sickle cell trait. With the introduction of malaria into areas of sub-Saharan Africa over 4000 years ago, naturally occurring genetic defense mechanisms have evolved for resisting infection by malaria (Tishkoff, 2001). One such defense has been the sickle cell trait. How is this possible? The initial answer comes from the relationship between the two. As illustrated in figure 5, areas hit hardest by malaria, where the disease is endemic, also show a high frequency of individuals that carry the Hb(S) gene. The data also indicates that in areas where malaria occurs at a much lower rate, such as in cooler drier climates, the gene expression of the sickle hemoglobin is greatly reduced or nonexistant. In West Africa, where malaria is so common that most children are infected with the disease, the incidences of sickle cell trait are as high as 40%. Though many suffer symptoms that are severe enough to warrant trips to the hospital, for most, the disease is not fatal. The key to their resistance is in their genes. Genes are all paired with each parent supplying one half of each pair. If either hemoglobin gene undergoes a mutation, the hemoglobin it makes will be changed. This particular mutation called the sickle cell gene is tiny but it is enough to change the shape of the hemoglobin molecules it makes. In areas where malaria is endemic, carriers of the Hb (S) gene have gained some resistance to malaria. This resistance results from the red blood cells that the Hb (S) carriers have. When the malaria parasite attempts to infect the red blood cells of an Hb (S) carrier, the abnormal hemoglobin present tends to sickle and this causes it to rupture. The rupturing prohibits the malaria parasite from reproducing. Due to their sickle shape, the infected cells die, are processed in the spleen and are then eliminated out of the body. The frequency of sickle-cell genes is around 10%. The existence of four haplotypes of sickle-type hemoglobin suggests that this mutation has emerged independently at least four times in malaria-endemic areas, further demonstrating its evolutionary advantage in such affected regions(The Medical News). Thus, people that had one copy of the gene were able to survive the malaria infection. They were able to grow up, get married and have children and pass the genes on to the next generation. This is selective pressure; that gene had an advantage in that particular environment for those carriers. We all have lots of small gene mutations; they mostly go unnoticed but if the environment changes, one may suddenly show unforeseen effects both good and bad. In this case, one copy of the gene is beneficial but two can be disastrous. In the USA, where there is no endemic malaria, the prevalence of sickle-cell anemia among blacks is lower (about 0.25%) than in West Africa (about 4.0%) and is falling (National Center for Biotechnology). As such, the sickle cell trait is gradually being selected out of that population. Inheritance of Sickle Cell Trait/Disease Figure 6In order to inherit the sickle cell trait one parent must be a carrier of the HBB, ÃŽÂ ²-globin S mutation and the other a carrier of an HBB mutation such as ÃŽÂ ²-thalassemia (M.A. Bender). A person develops the disease when they receive a copy of the defective gene from both parents. An individual that is heterozygous for the trait; in which they have one mutated and one healthy allele will remain healthy, but will be able to pass on the disease to their offspring. As such, this person is referred to as a carrier. Take for example two parents who are carriers (Rr) for sickle cell trait. Were they to have a child, there is a 25 percent chance that their child will develop the disease and a 50 percent chance of that child being a carrier. These examples as well as the other statistical possibilities are depicted in Figure 6. Individuals that are heterozygous for the sickle cell trait have a higher fitness than either of the homozygotes. This is known as heterozygote adv antage (Brigham and Womens Hospital). As this has remained a favorable adaptive advantage, the high prevalence of carriers in areas where malaria is still widespread brings to the forefront the reality that sickle cell disease is still pervasive in those regions. Hemoglobin: the story of Sickle Cell I had the idea in 1945 that sickle cell anemia might be a disease of the hemoglobin molecule. No one had ever suggested the idea of a molecular disease before. As soon I had this idea, I thought it must be right. From what I know of the properties of these patients I believed that this is a disease of the molecule; that if we looked at the blood of these patients we shall find that the hemoglobin molecules are different from other people. Linus Pauling Figure 7. Linus Pauling. BioRichUSALinus Pauling began his research into sickle cell disease by paying particularly close attention to the role that hemoglobin played in its manifestation. Hemoglobin is an oxygen carrying protein found inside red blood cells. Pauling theorized that the hemoglobin that characterizes sickle cell disease is abnormal. His studies showed that sickle cell Hb (S) does differ from Hb (A) in that it has a lower negative charge and pH. In sickle cell anemia, which is a common form of sickle cell disease, hemoglobin S replaces both beta-globin subunits in hemoglobin (Genetics Home Reference). Further inspection into the nature of hemoglobin shows that the hemoglobin protein produced in adults is divided into four sub-units that are joined together. These grouped sub-units are known as protein chains. Two types of these protein chains exist: 1) the alpha (ÃŽÂ ±) globin chain and 2) the beta (ÃŽÂ ²) globin chain. Hemoglobin protein is made up of two alpha globin chains and two beta globin chains. It is important to note that the genetic information used by the body to make the two hemoglobin chains can be found in two different hemoglobin genes located on two different chromosomes (Barlow-Stewart, 2001). The two identical ÃŽÂ ±-globin genes that code for ÃŽÂ ± globin chains is located on chromosome 16. Figure 8The ÃŽÂ ²-globin gene codes for the beta (ÃŽÂ ²) globin chain is located on  chromosome 11 (see Figure 8). Two copies of each of these chromosomes can be found in body cells. Everyone therefore has four copies of the alpha globin gene and two copies of the beta globin gene in their body cells (ibid). According to statics posted by the World Health Organization, it is estimated that five percent of adults are carriers for a hemoglobin condition with approximately 2.3% of that number accounting for those adults diagnosed with sickle cell disease. Interestingly enough, there is a correlation between a persons ancestry and the influence it has on the likelihood of that person being a genetic carrier for a hemoglobin condition such as sickle cell anemia. Detection and Treatment Detection of sickle cell disease can take place in one of two ways amniocentesis and blood testing. Blood testing on newborns is now conducted in more than 40 states. The use of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is also being utilized to help those parents that are undergoing in vitro fertilization and are also carriers of the sickle cell trait identify those embryos that have the defective sickle cell hemoglobin. In so doing, this allows the parents to choose only to implant those embryos that are free of the defect. The treatment of sickle cell disease has taken on the form of prescribing hydroxyurea, an antitumor drug that aids in the creation of fetal hemoglobin. Increased production of fetal hemoglobin helps to prevent the hemoglobin from sickling. New therapies have begun to be developed to treat sickle cell disease at the genetic level. Since December 2001, scientists have conducted research into looking at curing sickle cell disease by correcting the defective hemoglo bin; further testing needs to occur to determine the effectiveness of these genetic treatments. Conclusion Sickle cell is a uniquely fascinating disease in that it is one of a few genetic abnormalities that actually have a positive effect: it can be immensely beneficial protecting its carriers from facing the full brunt of the malicious malaria virus, as it renders the cells the virus invades as inhospitable. On the other end of the spectrum, however, it can also be a devastating affliction that leaves its victims with lives marked by constant pain crises and frequent stays in hospitals. Unfortunately, for those suffering from particularly severe sickle cell disease, there is no guaranteed cure for it, but there are potential treatments that scientists are researching to determine their plausibility. How Celtic was Iron Age Britain? How Celtic was Iron Age Britain? The concept of classifying a period of prehistory as the Iron Age was first introduced in the 19th century, and later validated by the massively significant discoveries at Hallstatt and La Tà ¨ne. Subsequently, the era was broken down into chronological periods, against which the British Iron Age is now defined. For ease of definition, The British Iron Age tends to be broken into three periods, Early, Middle and Late, spanning roughly 1000 years, from 800 BC to the 2nd century AD, and is so named owing to the discovery and development of iron taking prevalence over the use of bronze. The term Celtic, having passed into the vernacular, is now nothing more than a vague generic term. The traditional view was that Iron Age Britons were part of a vast Celtic Commonwealth which then stretched across Europe, a world of peoples who spoke related languages, and who shared a distinctive set of values, social institutions, spirituality, art and other aspects of life and culture. (James 1997, 2). This is now acknowledged to be a massive oversimplification, a romanticised notion born of theories put forward by 18th century scholars, based on classical Latin and Greek sources. Edward Lhuyd proposed that Welsh, Scottish and Irish languages all stem from the ancient Gaulish. The label Celtic was then transposed from the languages to the people themselves, landscapes, and their perceived culture and art. Historically and archaeologically speaking, this word is unhelpful and uninformative. Indeed, Simon James has suggested that calling the Iron Age Celtic is so misleading that it is best abandoned. (James S. 01.06.98) As the term Celtic is virtually meaningless, for the purpose of this piece we shall investigate to what extent the indigenous population of Britain were influenced by their continental counterparts. It was thought that the Iron Age Britons (comprising of diverse and often warring tribes and were in no way unified) were subject to a number of Belgic invasions during the Iron Age. Some of the evidence for this model comes from Caesar, who states that prior to his own expeditions of 55 and 54 B.C., the population of the coastal regions of south-eastern Britain had themselves migrated from Belgic Gaul, first in search of plunder, and subsequently in order to settle permanently. He also reported that in his own lifetime, Diviciacus had been not only the most powerful ruler in all Gaul, but had also exercised sovereignty in Britain. (D.W. Harding 1974, 201) There is archaeological evidence which has been used to support this model. The discovery of the Battersea shield in 1857, an intricately decorated piece, is similar to a bronze shield found in the river Witham in Lincolnshire. Both are similar in design to artefacts found at La Tà ¨ne. These finds, combined with cemetery sites in Aylesford, Welwyn and East Yorkshire, which bore close relation to Gaulish burial rites, were taken as verifying the theory of invasion as the principal, even sole, cause of change in prehistoric Britain. (James 1997, 12) With the coming of iron came a number of fortified defences or hillforts. There are approximately 3,300 such defences on mainland Britain. It was originally thought that these were a response to an invasion in the 3rd century B.C. letting loose bands of Celtic warriors over large parts of the south country. (Harding 1974, 54) However, subsequent investigation has found that techniques such as timber lacing, which was prevalent on the Continent, was also adopted in Britain. This presents us with the fact that there were indeed links with the Continent, which were not necessarily hostile, as their technology is shared and assimilated. Some tribes depended entirely on agriculture where the land and soil permitted; others in coastal regions where the land was not so hospitable, subsisted entirely from the sea. Settlement types varied accordingly, from the commonly used roundhouse, to the Lake Village near Glastonbury in the Somerset levels, to the stone built brochs of Northern Scotland. Such diversity does not seem to have been echoed on the Continent, although there were similarities in some areas. Referring to a settlement in Kent, Caesar wrote that the buildings were situated in close proximity to each other, and very similar to the settlements of the Gauls. However, there remains little evidence to date to suggest a strong relationship between the dwellings on the continent, and those in Britain. The economy mainly relied on agriculture and the manufacture of certain goods. Barry Cunliffe describes it thus: a broadly parallel development between Britain and the Continent, the two areas retaining a close contact, which encouraged a free flow of ideas and an exchange of goods, while indigenous traditions remain dominant. (Cunliffe 1991, 442) The use of coinage came into practice around 100 B.C. and directly emulated the Gallic system. There were comparisons with the economy of the Continent, but the British remained insular to some extent until the later Roman invasion. We have some archaeological evidence of the funerary practices of ancient Britain, but only classical references inform us as to the gods, druids and priesthoods intrinsic to these beliefs. According to Caesar, the Gauls and the British shared several practices, including the training of Druids. In the early Iron Age, the disposal of bodies left no archaeological trace. The middle iron age sees cemeteries and inhumations with goods, whilst the late Iron Age sees the introduction of cremations form Gaul. In addition, many bodies from this era have been retrieved from peat bogs throughout northern Europe, often with signs of multiple causes of death, perhaps indicating ritual sacrifice. Evidence suggests that similar beliefs are held throughout Europe at this time, and would seem to denote a belief in some form of afterlife. Much is made of the Celtic head cult, but this largely depends on interpretation of the evidence. ‘There is no doubt that the head was considered the most im portant part of the human body the emphasis on head-hunting demonstrates this and the stress on the head in Celtic art is incontestable. Yet I believe it is a mistake to think in terms of a specific head-cult’ (Green 1986, 216). In conclusion, how Belgae Gallic was Iron Age Britain? Certainly, many aspects of Iron Age life were influenced by the Belgic Gauls, to varying degrees throughout the period. But to call the British Iron Age Celtic is a simplified generalisation; some areas were touched by Continental practices, others, more geographically remote from the south coast will have felt their influences far less. However, it seems far less likely that Britain was invaded per se. Simon James states that Britain in the Iron Age grew with vital, if not erratic, contributions and influences from continental Europe in the form of trade, kinship links, and pretty certainly some localised immigration, especially in the late Iron Age South. (James 1997, 84)The revisionist theory seems at this moment far more plausible than the concept of wholesale invasion. BIBLIOGRAPHY Cunliffe, Barry, Iron Age Communities in Britain, Routledge 1991 Green, Miranda, The Gods of the Celts, Gloucester 1986. Harding, D.W., The Iron Age in Lowland Britain, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1974 James, S. Rigby, V., Britain and the Celtic Iron Age, British Museum Press 1997 James, S., 1998 Peoples of Britain (online) UK; Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/prehistory/peoples_03.shtml Accessed 29th April 2005

My Journey With Reading and Writing :: Education Teaching

My Journey With Reading and Writing There have not been many obstacles that have gotten in my way for me to be a successful reader. I am able to confidently read "Hope in the Unseen" because it keeps my interest. I like the story. I feel for Cedric. I imagine and picture the story in my mind. When a large amount of reading is assigned, sometimes my brain gets exhausted and I have to take a break. Literally my brain gets tired. The reason why I have trouble getting all of my assignments in for "Writing and Being" is because the book does not hold my interest. I find it boring at times. I really like "Higher Learning" because the stories are like short stories, and they are adventurous in a weird way. I have gained some insight from certain readings. "Who Shall I Be" really struck me in a good way. It talks about the reality of positive and negative consequences resulting from some sort of change. Changes can be dangerous at times. Not physically, but mentally. I guess it could be physical in some situations. I feel I have become a more mature reader since high school. Reading experience leads to reading success. That’s my opinion. I used to not be able to focus when I read, but you just have to stick it out and read and read and read. I feel I am a focused reader now, I try hard. I have also gained mental reading confidence. You break that down. The greatest difficulty that I came across doing the first essay was retracing the past, retracing the sadness. Having to bring back sad memories that made my life terrible at the time. Doing the essay, I learned that I have gone through a lot of crap. I was sinking in quicksand and now I stand on the quicksand like it is rock solid. I am proud of myself. I was able to turn my life around and be the person that I am today. I might have the potential to be a good writer someday. People compliment on my writing skills every now and then when I write something long. That makes me feel like a real student. I say that because an old History teacher of mine used to tell kids to be students when they were not doing their work. My biggest concern these days, is whether I will be able to survive in college.

Corporation and Florida International University Essay

I am writing this letter regarding my request for funding to attend a business writing course at Florida International University. This course is only held once a year in our area and it will be on the 11 day of July ending on the 13 day of July 2013. The business writing course is the only course held of its kind and it is the most cost-effective professional development opportunity available to me this year. The writing course offers all the tools, techniques and concepts related to business writing, such as critical problem solving with employee communication skills, this course will be a major benefit and provide me with additional knowledge on skills I already possess; by teaching me how to write more clear, crisp and effective. The course will also guide me on how to dissect business documents so that our organizational initiatives will accelerate and performance should increase within Smith International, I will also gain more knowledge on the clarity, impact, and overall professionalism of on-the-job e-mails, letters, and reports which I deal with on a day-to-day basis. The course will be taught by Dr. James Johnson; a world renowned professor for Harvard University Business School, Dr.  Johnson has written several books and has lectured at more than 100 universities worldwide, his expertise and recognition in business writing has not gone unnoticed. Dr. James Johnson has been recognized for his work with U. S government organizations for his ability to critique an array of documents, his ability to analyze policies of privately sealed government documents. He has made his mark and comprehension on business corporations and governments all over the world. The business writing course that will be held at Florida International University will be a cost of ($250 value) this will include a business writing certification, recognizing the completion of the course, all the information printed on paper and presented, is free for all writing course participants, and can be shared with my colleagues who are not able to attend the course at this time. Thank you for considering this request for me to attend the business writing course.

Howards End - EM Forster essays

Howards End - EM Forster essays Malcolm Bradbury writes of the novel: The will to vision, the liberal wish for right reason, the claim of the holiness of the hearts affections all are consistently confronted with ambiguity. How do you respond to this assessment of Howards End? Perhaps what makes Howards End a truly great novel is the lack of any tangible resolution of the ideas raised and Forsters reluctance to give the reader any definite answers. Instead Forster presents to us characters, situations and symbols that may cause the reader to draw conclusions that will be repeatedly challenged and supported as the novel progresses. It is the ambiguities that Bradbury identifies that make the characters of the novel more authentic: as in real life, such things as the will to vision, the liberal wish for right reason and the claim of the holiness of the hearts affections are not concepts that the reader can decide simply to champion or reject. They are complex ideas that manifest themselves in many different ways in various people and with diverse results. We might consider the lack of straightforward answers about each of these three concepts an attempt to provide us with an explanation of the realities of modern society in itself. The will to vision and the liberal wish for right reason the love of ideals and the possession of social conscience are attributes that Helen and Margaret can be closely associated with. They sum up the ethos of the Schlegel sisters, at the beginning of the novel at least. We see from the start that this mentality is at odds with the England of the early 20th century their Aunt Juley, a representative of the prejudiced English establishment considers them odd girls. Although, before meeting the Wilcoxes, she claims that Literature and Art are most important, we find that on meeting Charles...

If Youre an Independent Author, Check out Big Als Books Pals

If Youre an Independent Author, Check out Big Als Books Pals Would it surprise you to know that the Big-Five traditional publishers account for only 16% of the e-books on Amazons bestseller lists? If you are an independent author or working with a small press, then these are promising statistics. And thats why Kindle and indie-focused reviewers like Big Als Books Pals can be a great resource for gaining reviewer exposure in a marketplace tilted significantly in your favor.Why is this? Because the rest of the books populating those lists are from independent authors, with nearly 40% of the e-book sales going straight into the writers pocket (as it should!). Sci-fi and Fantasy dominate the e-book and Amazon Kindle Store market, but all genres are seeing a significant rise in sales.Exposure for indie writersBig Als Books Pals is an excellent resource for a glimpse into the latest and greatest in the independent literary world. Whether you are an independent writer looking to gain exposure, or an avid reader who just loves independent authors, t his website has you covered. With reviews, news, and commentary, Big Al, a self-admitted avid reader for many decades, curates a blog along with a team of fellow reviewers that helps sift through the variety of (sometimes disappointing) options available on the independent publishing market. Put simply, the reviewing team is focused on helping readers find the writers and books worthy of attention, and on helping independent authors gain the exposure they need to achieve success in their writing.I think were living in an exciting time. The opportunity to experience a variety of voices, different subject matter in fiction, and to find quality reading off the beaten path is greater than ever before. This is why I focus on indie authors.Big AlHow it all startedWith extensive industry experience writing music reviews for a variety of websites and magazines, Big Al speaks of how he was always approached by readers asking why he didnt have a book review blog. People trusted his opinion an d wanted to know how he felt about books, as well. One thing led to another, which eventually led to Big Als Books Pals.His other website, The Indie View, includes resources for independent authors and their readers, interviews with some of the best writers in the business, and a database of reviewers who are indie-friendly for authors interested in getting the word out about their books. Along with his contributions to his two websites, he also regularly contributes to Indies Unlimited and is listed as a contributing author to Indies Unlimited: Tutorials and Tools for Prospering in a Digital World (Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords) and Indies Unlimited: Tutorials and Tools for Prospering in a Digital World Vol II (Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords).How writers can benefitFor an independently published writer, it doesnt take long to discover that writing the manuscript was only the first challenge. After the final draft has gone to print, authors are left with a major life accomplis hment crossed off their list but months and years of marketing their work if they expect to find success as a writer.Theres no question that getting great reviews for your book is the key to increasing exposure and sales in a digital format. In fact, Amazon reviews are one of the main driving factors to peoples purchasing decisions.And its not just Amazon reviews that drive this. One survey published on YouGov reveals that 78 percent of U.S. consumers make a decision to purchase an item based solely on online reviews. In fact, theres survey data showing that 87% of consumers will come closer to trusting information presented in an online review than they will information given to them by their close friends or family members. Thats a lot of sway that online reviews have over an independent authors book sales.Put simply, when your book has positive reviews, especially from a trusted source like Big Als Books Pals, the audience of that review will trust that purchasing your book will be a good investment for them. Reviews also benefit your marketing strategies as a self-published author in that they can be used on press releases and other communications to draw the attention of local and national bookstore chains.A large hurdle that many indie writers face is the bulk of professional book reviewers who wont review anything published outside of the major publishing houses. Thats why reviewers like Big Al and his team - who focus their work entirely on self-published and small press books - are such a valuable resource.What to expectWith a mixture of humor, intelligence, and skepticism, Big Als reviews offer a no-holds-barred look at everything from narrative style to overall impact of a story or work of non-fiction. Across the website, youll find evidence that Big Al knows what hes talking about in whats moving and shaking in the world of independent publishing. He knows what hes talking about to such a degree that he promises his readers an honest review, so theres no going back once your book is submitted. Hes even had authors demanding that he take down negative reviews of their books, which doesnt happen often since he curates from a large selection of submissions.So, if you do submit your book to be reviewed, know that the review will be honest and non-negotiable. Which is what any great book reviewer should supply to his trusting readers in the first place.Submitting a book for reviewFor writers wishing to take advantage of Big Als Books Pals wide audience of avid readers, the website accepts books for review as long as the book meets specific criteria. Again, as noted above, its important to note that after your book is submitted, all reviews are final.Here are the specific criteria your book must meet to be reviewed by the team at Big Als Books Pals:It must be available as an eBook from Amazon.com.It must be one of the followingshort story (or short story collection), novella, or full-length novel.You can submit any genre of fi ction. Big Al and his team will also review non-fiction books, but it must be a subject that is of general interest and one that can be understood by a layperson. This means that if it is on a highly technical theme that requires a lot of background knowledge, your book will likely be passed over and not chosen for review.Only authors, publishers, or other valid representatives can submit books. However, it should be noted that the reviewers for Big Als Books Pals also review books that have not been specifically submitted to them, or that they find on their own.The book must be indie published. According to the websites definition of indie published, the book must be self-published or from a small press and cannot be from one of the big publishing houses. However, if a book was previously published by a large publisher but was re-published as an indie book, then the reviewers will consider it for review.Formats required for submissionBig Als Books Pals accepts manuscripts in any Kindle compatible format (non-DRMed .AZW, .PRC, or .MOBI) or as an email attachment. They also offer submission options with a Smashwords coupon code. However, they will not accept book submissions as Amazon gifts or other formats such as .DOC or .PDF.How books are acceptedAfter you have submitted your book following all guidelines, youll receive an email confirming your submission. While the website makes no promises that any book submitted will be chosen for a review, theres a good chance your book will be chosen by one of the reviewers on the Big Als Books Pals team as long as you follow the submission guidelines.However, due to the nature of the reviewing process, note that it could take up to one year for a reviewer to select and read your book, although reviewers generally get to it before that timeframe if the book is chosen. After one year of being on the list, your book will be dropped from it if it hasnt been chosen by that time.If your book is chosen for review, a review will be written and posted without further notice to you. The easiest way to see if your book was chosen is to follow the Big Als Books Pals blog. After the review is posted to the blog, it will be posted to Amazon.com within two weeks. Reviews might also be posted across other websites, including Goodreads, other eBook retailers, and personal blogs.Special promotionsOne of the best parts of the website is the special promotions and giveaways it offers, as well as an annual Readers Choice Awards.Review formatWhile the best way to see how the reviewers at Big Als Books Pals go about their reviews is to visit the website, below is a quick overview of the sections of each review published. Basic information about the book is provided, including links to purchase it in various formats.A brief author bio with a link to the authors website or social media.Description of the book.An appraisal, including the reviewers overall impressions of the book and how well the author tells the stor y. This is essentially the meat of the review and will contain the most information.An FYI section that includes information that might affect a readers decision to buy and read this book (for example, language or sexual situations). If your book doesnt have any such situations, this section might be left off.A review of any format/typo issues that might be present within the book. What this means is as a self-published author, its important to get your book edited by a professional editor before sending it to print. Even the smallest of typos can have a big impact on your books reception by reviewers and readers alike.And finally, a star rating on a five-star scale.A final wordIn the world of independent publishing, its important to know the right resources to help you to market the book you spent so much time working on to create. Without these well-informed marketing strategies, even the best-written masterpiece can perform poorly with sales- simply due to lack of exposure.Findin g the right exposure is crucial, and Big Als Books Pals is an example of doing it right. Even if youre unsure of how well your book will be received, if youre publishing it, its already going to be out there for the world to read. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain, so go ahead and submit it for review!

The IRIS Center Module Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The IRIS Center Module - Essay Example In the challenge provided about Maria, how her teacher Mr. Bennett and the school respond to her situation, is a practical example of cultural influence and ignorance. In this case, there is failure by the teacher and the school to address the problem at hand, which is Maria’s bilingualism and cultural influence. This is due to the fact that, despite the heavy influence that her cultural background has on her, the teacher continues using the same mode of teaching instruction as he uses on other students. There lacks a deliberate effort to understand and address her linguistic dilemma and cultural influence since she has lived in Mexico most of her life hence, this can create a communication barrier during learning. Moreover, the school has not taken any measure to improve her proficiency in the use of English as a mode of communication in both speaking and writing. This is in view of the fact that this is the language she is expected to use in learning and which plays a critic al role in her overall academic performance. Introducing a special programme for her and for other students with similar problems where they get to learn both written and spoken language so as to be at a level playing field with their language proficient colleagues would really assist in addressing Maria’s problem to a large extent. ... As a result, she lacks the necessary motivation to concentrate since she feels completely out of place. Secondly, language barrier may be a major factor affecting Maria. Since English is a second language to her, it is the dominant language in her school and consequently in her learning hence, she may experience problems if she is still in the early stages of developing proficiency in its usage. This is exhibited by the slow development of her reading and even participation in class. Concerning her ability to chat with other children in English, it is important to note at which stage she is at as an English learner. This is important because the various stages of learning stages lead to both Basic Interpersonal Communicative Skills (BICS) and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP), which are two types of language proficiency. In this case, Maria may be having acquired the BICS type to be able to communicate only at a social level and therefore not able to exhibit the same aca demically (York, 2006). The perception that Maria’s parents may be indifferent to their daughter’s education may be misplaced. This is in light of the fact that they may have some personal reasons holding them back based on their culture or the school and the teacher have not used the appropriate forms of communication. A major personal reason why the may have not responded to Mr. Bennett’s instructions may include their limited language skills. Moreover, the notes sent to them via Maria may be in English or translated in formal writing that is hard for them to understand considering they just moved from Mexico. This only shows that there is lack of effective communication

Negotiations - Hypothetical Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Negotiations - Hypothetical Analysis - Essay Example Jonathan Brown, and he therefore, is not interested in joining issues with him publicly. He desires that the deliberations be kept absolutely confidential. The hiring policy as envisaged and implemented by Mr. Brown is ideal as per his philosophy but he is out of step with the demands of the time. Mr. Brown’s convictions are right according to him, he has given a sterling medical institution to the public, he is taking care of his staff well, he has no trade union problems, the salaries and perquisites which his staff is paid is significantly higher than what is prevalent in the industry, he treats the staff very well and they adore him as a noble person, and the single point agenda of the Mayor of Boston is proportional representation of the female doctors in the hiring committee. 2. What kind of negotiator is on the other side? The negotiator on the other side is a politician, the Mayor of the city of Boston. Building one’s own power castle is the primary agenda of a politician, there could be rarest of the rare exceptions. By showing his concern for empowering women, he is playing to the gallery. The women employees of the hospital are happy with the administration of Mr. Brown and they are treated very well and get one of the best pay packets in the industry. The negotiator must be having some political compulsions and his desire to discuss the issue with Mr. Brown in confidence indicates that his intentions are not totally insincere. He feels that it is a policy issue and as the Mayor of the city, it is his duty to set right the things. 3. What are your interests? My interests are simple and straightforward. I have been pursuing this policy successfully for the past 35 years. I have no grudge against the womenfolk, absolutely nothing! What I pursue is the principles of the science of ergonomics—finding proper individuals for the proper assignments. I am convinced that women make good nurses, temperamentally they are suitable for that p ost, and I also believe that they make good doctors as well. But there are realistic problems in summoning them to the hospitals in case of emergencies, as women have the primary responsibilities at home. In the overall scheme of administration as envisaged by me, I do not intend to offer them the position of doctors. 4. What are your counterpart’s interests? His concern for the welfare and rights of women seems to be superficial in the present case. He is just counting his votes, and by raising a women-related issue, he is appealing to their emotions with the ultimate aim of converting the sympathy wave into votes. He is visualizing a formidable vote-bank in women and he is planning to turn the tide in his favor. But he is also aware of raking the issues against a reputed hospital, where the presence of the women in the hiring committee is about 16%. (male11, female 2) 5. Who will prepare the agenda and what will the agenda cover? Both the parties to the discussion are seize d about the issue. It seems to be just a one point agenda. A formal agenda has not been circulated either from the side of Mr. Brown or from the side of the Mayor. The discussions will be of a confidential nature, as desired by the Mayor. This shows that the Mayor has some reservations in the back of his mind, and therefore he is insisting for a one to one