Saturday, December 28, 2019

The Parable Of The Cave - 979 Words

The stories we read can teach us many things. We can learn lessons from such stories can make us better people by teaching how others have learned from their successes and failures. Many examples of such successes and failures which are discovered in Plato’s story, â€Å"The Parable of the Cave,† and Genesis chapter of the The Old Testament. Those involved in these stories learn valuable lessons in these stories, both in a similar way, yet with different outcomes. Even with these different outcome, everyone involved are taught in similar fashion, by learning one concept after another, until they were able to comprehend fully. In Plato’s, â€Å"The Parable of the Cave,† Socrates is talking with a young follower named, Glaucon. Socrates wants to talk about those who are enlightened or unenlightened, about looking past your own scope or view on your life, to expand your mind. In order for Socrates to get his point across he needs to set examples for Glaucon. Firstly, he starts his story of prisoners in chains, where they are unable to move since childhood, followed by the effects that would occur if set free. Socrates uses questions in order to engage Glaucon to teach him his principles of his theory. For example, â€Å"And if they were able to converse with one another, would they not suppose that they were naming what was actually before them?† (Literature of the Western World Pg. 1197) Also, when Socrates is talking about the prisoner being removedShow MoreRelatedParable Of The Cave Summary934 Words   |  4 PagesSummarize Platos famous Parable of the Cave from The Republic. After your summary, discuss how you view the significance of the story in terms of your own experience and your own search for enlightenment. Summary of the story Parable of the cave is a philosophical analogy from the Republic by Plato which was written around 380 Before Christ. It explores the theme of perception, philosophy and the benefit of education. The allegory takes the form of a conversation between Glaucon, Plato’s siblingRead MorePlato and Gospel: Which One Brings Correct Truth1019 Words   |  4 PagesUndoubtedly in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’s illustrations and parables points repeatedly to different audiences and in different contexts conveying the same message in different connections. Through the parable of lamp, it can be inferred that a person should strive to gains knowledge and once enlightened, the knowledge should be shared with other people in order to give their life a purpose. In similar manner, Plato’s allegory of the Cave sheds a light upon the paradigm of a person who accepts theRead MoreThe Allegory of the Cave700 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"The Allegory of the Cave† in the early 300 B. C. This parable has left many scholars dumbfounded throughout centuries because of the insight Plato fills the pages within the story. It is a story of prisoners trapped in a cave, but specifically about a mans journey from ignorance to knowledge. This is the worldly take on the story—in a biblical point of view it is still a journey from ignorance to knowledge, but in a very different context. The journey from the darkness of the cave into the light ofRead MorePlato s View On Education1585 Words   |  7 Pagessocieties. In this essay, I will further explain what is education in Plato and Nietzche’s point of view and their concerns about education and knowledge. In Plato’s famous Parable of the Cave, he claims in the beginning that â€Å"human beings living in a underground cave.† (Plato 226) He thus explains that the prisoners in the cave are chained between a fire and a wall. They are forced to face to the wall, the only things they can see are the shadows of the objects and their own shadow appears on theRead MoreThe Allegory Of The Cave1051 Words   |  5 PagesPlato’s iconic â€Å"Parable of the Cave† explores the give and take of knowledge and freedom. The story touches on enlightenment, the overwhelming fear of the unknown, and if it is even possible to gain the knowledge that brings liberation. Throughout the story, the reader is essentially faced with the question of if knowledge is power, or ignorance is bliss. Plato’s â€Å"Parable of the Cave† begins by setting the scene of men dwelling in a cave since birth. These men have their necks and legs restrainedRead MoreThe Concept Of Reality Television In The Truman Show And The Truman Show742 Words   |  3 Pagesextreme to the average viewer, reality TV is designed to be intriguing to audiences of all kind. In Socrates parable, he describes men at the base of a vertical cave who are subject to open viewership by anyone. Socrates then introduces the idea that if the men were motivated by any form of prize would they prefer to remain in the cave or â€Å"envy the men exalted to power and honor in the Cave?† essentially questioning the intent of their imprisonment. Socrates also poses the idea that if shapes andRead MoreThe Apology By Plato s Speech1416 Words   |  6 Pagesthemselves more than they’ve harmed him. In The Parable of the Cave Plato tells a story about the nature of reality as a conversation between Socrates and one of Socrates’ students Glaucon. Socrates asks Glaucon to imagine a cave where prisoners are kept. These prisoners have been in the cave since their childhood and they are chained so that their legs and necks are immobile, so that they are forced to look at a wall in front of them with their backs to the cave entrance. Occasionally people or animalsRead MorePlatos Allegory of the Cave and the Condition of Mankind1147 Words   |  5 PagesIn philosophy the distinction between truth and knowledge is effectively highlighted in Plato’s allegory of the cave, which illustrates the great limitations faced by philosophers in discovering the ultimate nature of reality. Nevertheless regarding the theory of knowledge, the parable itself is highly symbolic and asserts that any knowledge gained through perceptual awareness is an illusion and are mere reflections of th e highest truths. This allegory can be interpreted in many ways; however inRead More plato Essay1175 Words   |  5 Pages Discuss Plato’s Parable of the Cave. Plato’s parable of the cave, also known as the â€Å"allegory of the cave, opulently describes beneficial metaphors and elaborate imagery about knowledge, ignorance, truth and lastly enlightenment. The allegory of the cave appears at the beginning of Book VII of Plato’s The Republic, which in itself is principally a study of justice, government and leadership. In The Republic, Plato describes a cave containing individuals confined to the cave floor, bound by shacklesRead MoreAnalysis of Platos Allegory of the Cave948 Words   |  4 PagesAllegory of the Cave Platos Allegory of the Cave is also termed as the Analogy of the Cave, Platos Cave, or the Parable of the Cave. It was used by the Greek philosopher Plato in his work The Republic to illustrate our nature in its education and want of education. It comprises of a fictional dialogue between Platos teacher Socrates and Platos brother Glaucon. Socrates gives a description of a group of people who spent their lifetime facing a blank wall chained to the wall of a cave. These people

Friday, December 20, 2019

Graduation Speech High School Band - 1655 Words

High-school band is the greatest thing to ever happen to me, but I almost didn’t do it. One day in middle school band class the high school band director, Mr. Perkins, was with us to talk about band in high school. He talked about how marching band was a great experience, and that we should not only sign up for marching band, but take a band class during the school year. I really liked Mr. Perkins, but I for whatever reason convinced myself beforehand that I wasn’t going to do marching band. I can’t even remember what the reason was. I loved music, liked band, and I liked playing my instrument. Maybe I thought it was too much work or that it was for â€Å"nerds†. Regardless, I had made up my mind beforehand. I went home that day and told my parents there was no way I was doing band. They immediately told me that I needed to give it time and think about all my options before I made my decision. They wanted me to be involved in at least something. After thin king about it, and my friends convincing me, I reluctantly decided to do marching band. I however decided to not take a band class. I went to band camp, and absolutely loved it. I met so many new people and had loads of fun. I was playing really well and got attention for it from my trombone section leaders and even Mr. Perkins. Things were great, up until marching band ended two months later. I was done with music until next year, and my trombone friends were in band class getting better. In efforts to avoid effort, I didn’tShow MoreRelatedGraduation by Maya Angelou Critique1386 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 121 SL May 9, 2012 â€Å"Graduation† Critique â€Å"Graduation† was written by Maya Angelou in 1969. Angelou was born in Missouri, but after her parents divorced, she was sent to live with her grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. While in Arkansas, Angelou attended the Lafayette County Training School. The school is the setting for her essay â€Å"Graduation.† Angelou graduated from eighth grade at Lafayette with top honors and went on to graduate from high school. After high school, Angelou wrote over thirtyRead MoreGraduation Speech : My Graduation Essay1022 Words   |  5 Pages My Graduation A Graduation ceremony is one of the major steps in life, it marks the start of new changes in our lives. It ushers us into growing up and be responsible for our actions. It marks a new dawn of embracing life experiences, cultivation of good work ethics and eventually culminates in chasing our dreams. On my graduation day, I woke up to the sweet aroma of the breakfast my sister was making. I sat down to eat when the food was ready. It took me about 2 hours to finishRead More High School Graduation Essay997 Words   |  4 PagesGraduation   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Through out life people go through so many hardships. Whether it be good or bad there is always something that comes out of the situation. One of the most exciting but yet scariest events would be graduation. For a lot of people, graduating from high school is a goal. It takes a lot of time and effort to achieve that goal. In the long run, it opens a lot of opportunities for people to succeed. Graduation is the end of high school, and the beginning to life.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I can almostRead More Writing Techniques That Appeal to Readers Essay886 Words   |  4 Pageshere provides the reader with a better sense of the extent of boredom the speaker experienced daily. Also, in Blue Band Emotional High, a narrative essay, the speaker writes, I knew I bled blue and white from that moment on after she is awarded a position on the Penn State Blue Band. In this sentence, the diction indicates the powerful dedication the speaker feels to the Blue Band. The writers of these essays use diction, as all writers should, as their tool to evoke the intended reactions fromRead MoreGrade Students With Low Reading Comprehension Level860 Words   |  4 Pagesstudents carry a heavy burden with them as they enter high school. McCallumore and Sparapani (2010) point out that these students are coming from middle school with low reading comprehension level; therefore, they are behind before they begin. The study continues with data from the Southern Regi onal Education Board that 51% of teachers in high school believe their incoming freshman are ill-prepared with the background knowledge needed to enter high school. Teachers must find ways to communicate withRead MoreI Had A Pretty Normal Childhood837 Words   |  4 Pagesyou could get in elementary school and was almost valedictorian of my middle school class. I wasn’t popular, but had a few close friends and even had a boyfriend before I got to high school. Sure, I was picked on a bit, but who wasn’t picked on in middle school? High school was nothing to write home about. I made a few close friends, most of which I had Jazz Band with, and just made my way through four years. I got good grades, but going to a college preparatory high school, one of the highest rankedRead MoreEducation, Science, And Language Arts Essay1713 Words   |  7 Pageshighly skilled labor.† (Faure, 3) Engineering, back then, was seen as the most advanced career to be able to push ahead of foreign countries. In order to be superior to other countries, and make sure they know that we can and will fight back, to be high in the rankings â€Å"innov ative minds emerge from it† (Faure, 3), education was altered. Education would now focus on mathematics and the sciences. This strategy, through the education system, would help to create more engineers. Those engineers wouldRead MoreOh Say, Can You Sing1927 Words   |  8 Pagesnumerous learning benefits to students across the United States from public schools, private schools and colleges. Has music education in American history change compared to today? As America declared itself independent July 4, 1776, it was not till 1838 when the first music public schools were open, from adjacent states of Boston to New York. Around the 1700-1800s, the original idea of music being taught in public schools was to improve the small and major cities’ choirs in churches. With the beginningRead MoreGraduation Speech : High School Students2263 Words   |  10 PagesFriends, Family, and Students, Good morning Please join me in thanking Mr. Moore, our Band director, and our award winning Jupiter High School band for their performance today. I also want to personally thank each of your for being here, helping us to make this a special occasion for all of our graduates and their families. To do that, we ask that you keep your applause brief to ensure each name will be heard. Please turn off your cell phones at this time, refrain from using noise makers, and pleaseRead MorePublic Service At The Station1434 Words   |  6 Pagesmeetings between the disk jockeys and the record companies’ representatives carrying along artists to persuade the station to play their music (Kellogg 2016). In her time working, Payola was a scandal that raised the music industry tension to the highs when learned that â€Å"the disk jockeys were being bribed to play certain songs† (Kellogg 2016). As a result of this occurring, distributors became more cautious regarding the stations they communicated with. Despite this, protest folk alongside rock and

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Motivation for Education Essay Example For Students

Motivation for Education Essay Every person in the United States is required to attend someschooling. Since college is not required, there are so many reasons not togo. Motivation is one of the biggest reasons that people do go. However,what does motivation mean? As everybody knows is an inducement or incentiveto do something in life. Therefore, there are so many things that canmotivate different people to attend college. One of the biggest things that probably motivate people to go tocollege is to improve their jobs or compensation. Anymore, to get anindividual would have to have a college degree. Anyone can get a job wherethey show up to work, work long hours, with a low pay rate, and cannot waitto go home. However, by going to college and getting a degree in a field ofchoice, a person will be able to choose their job, work better hours, havebetter pay, and enjoy their career. A different good motivation students go to college is because of self-gratification. Many students these days are the first in their families tobetter their education, such as myself. To me, I get self-gratificationbecause it makes my family proud that I am in school, and that I have myeducational goals gradually done so far. Despite the differences withlanguage and culture, I have developed a strongest feeling that incentiveme to continue studying my dreamed career, this, in return, makes me proud. In addition, self-gratification comes when students do something they weretold they could not do. A good example of this is women being in college. For instance, Adrienne Rich explains in Claming an Education: Ourupbringing as women has often told us that this should come second to ourrelationships and responsibilities to other people. Responsibility meansrefusing to let others do your thinking, talking, and naming for you. Itmeans learning to respect your own brains and instincts; hence grapplingwith hard work. The education of women has been a matter of debate forcenturies, and old, negative attitudes about womens ability to think andtake leadership, are still rife both inside and outside the universities. Therefore, by pushing so much for a higher education, should bring allwomen self-appreciation. An additional example of motivation to go to school and is probablythe most obvious is to learn. One way college is so different fromelementary and high school is that it is not required. People are therebecause they want to be there. In college, you can take classes just tolearn about things. You do not have to be going to school to be something,but maybe just to learn. Also, there is the motivation to learn by teachingyourself, to read and write or maybe home schooling, and then going tocollege to smooth the edges of your self taught education. Malcolm X is agood example of that. He was a self made man who taught himself to read andwrite. He can inspire so many of us for the strength he had to do that. Another motivation to go to college is socialization. Students come tocollege and meet so many different people, and are exposed to so manydifferent cultures. The best example of it is I. The fact that I came tolive in a country with different languages and cultures make me valorizedmore than people from other places who come to perform goals in life inthis part of the world. So, international schools and dormitory living aregood ways to get these experiences. Parties might be another reason that motivates people to go to school. .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 , .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .postImageUrl , .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 , .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508:hover , .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508:visited , .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508:active { border:0!important; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 { 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; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508:active , .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .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; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508 .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ufe2a5e52a0bc3b91e89eb3371f630508:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Progress (176 words) EssayStudents might not know what they want to do with their life yet, so theypick a party school so they can have fun with things until they figure itout. Extra curricular activities are another motivation to attend college. Some students pick schools for their extra programs. They might pick aschool for the drama program, or they might pick a good football school inhopes to be drafted to the NFL. This can be a good intention to get youinto school because a lot of times you can get scholarships that will helpstudents pay for tuition. In addition, you have to keep your grades up tobe in these programs so you have to try hard. This is good in helping tokeep students focused. All motivations are good; they are a big help in setting yourpriorities in line. Since college is not required, there are many otheroptions in life to choose. However, people who are expecting an improvementin life and are wishing to ensure their financial future. If you arethinking about getting out and socialize with people in the world, get abetter job, or be in an extracurricular activity, I think you should getinto college to accomplish your goals and be that person who you will everbe proud of.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

Movies Film and Cinema free essay sample

Nowadays, mass media has brought a wide range of choices for people to enjoy, such as classic movie or films, which are phenomena of cinema industry. Some people argue that watching movies at the cinema is the best choice in order to enjoy all types of movies, while many other contend that home is an extremely option as well. However, watching movie at home is preferable than watching movies at the cinema or Cineplex. There are some distinct similarities and differences between watching movies at home and watching movies at cinema or Cineplex.First of all, there are some differences about these two ideas. When one is watching movies at home, he/she can take a break anytime he/she wants. However, it was different with the cinema. In the cinema, the movie is shown without any break. Secondly, at home when one is watching a movie, he can control the volume as he likes, but this cannot be done in the cinema. We will write a custom essay sample on Movies: Film and Cinema or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Also, one will save a great deal of money and time because he/she do not have to buy a ticket or extra service and you can still enjoy the movie without having to travel anywhere.It is also far better to watch a movie at home than cinema or Cineplex, especially now when it is easy to get the dvd of the film within a year of it appearing in the cinema. Futhermore, one has a designated seat in the cinema, and he cannot sit somewhere else. While at home, one can sit anywhere he prefers to. Since the cinema is a public place, one should not be making major noises while other are concentrating in the movie. In the comfort of one’s home, silence is not really required.The fact that one can choose his/her time is important. Instead of trying to get a time off of work or going without his/her supper inbetween work and the cinema trip, you can decide to start the film anytime he/she wants. In conclusion, watching movies at home is preferable than watching movies at cinema or Cineplex as one can have his/her own break, own seat, control the volume as he/she likes at anytime without any obstruction.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Civil War In US Essays - Slavery In The United States, Compromise

Civil War In US The annexation of Texas to the United States and the gain of new territory by the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo aggravated the hostility between the North and South. The controversial issue of slavery in the new territories arose again along with many other political differences that needed to be resolved. In the midst of fear that the southern states might withdraw from the Union altogether, Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky created a series of five legislative enactments. These enactments, known as the Compromise of 1850, answer the question of whether slavery was to be sanctioned or prohibited in the newly acquired regions. The first two measures included the admission of California as a free state and abolition of slave trade in the District of Columbia. The third bill was the Fugitive Slave Laws of 1850, which provided for the return of runaway slaves to their masters. The terms of the fourth measure said that Utah and New Mexico become free to settlement by both slaveholders and abolitionists, superceding the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Finally, the fifth measure stated that Texas, a slave state, be awarded ten million dollars, further strengthening the south. William Henry Seward, among many others, including President Taylor, believed that the Union was not threatened. In addition, as a strong abolitionist Seward despised the very idea of the strict fugitive slave law and eagerly protested the proposed political equilibrium. First, the fugitive law denies to the black citizen all the safeguards of personal liberty, to render less frequent the escape of the bondman. Next, the organization of Utah and New Mexico into slave states in order to appease the South into staying with the Union is unconstitutional. This impracticable measure "converts the Government from a national democracy, operating by a constitutional majority of votes, into a Federal alliance, in which the minority shall have a veto against the majority." Finally, these laws are quite unnecessary because the Union was not threatened. Despite his many speeches and unwavering opposition towards the Compromise of 1850, the U.S. Congress passed the laws during August and September 1850. Many people, in the north and south, hailed the compromise as a final solution to the question of slavery in territories. However, the never dying issue reemerged in 1854 with the Kansas-Nebraska Act. Finally, the gradual intensification of the hostility between free and slave states because of the compromise measures resulted in the brutal Civil War.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Drought Causes, Types, and Resources

Drought Causes, Types, and Resources Its been a while since youve seen  a chance of rain in your forecast... could your city be in danger of a drought?   Youll be glad to know that although a lack of rain or snow over a period of several days, or even a week, is unusual, it doesnt necessarily mean youre headed for a drought. Droughts are periods (typically several weeks or longer) of abnormally dry and  precipitation-less weather. How dry depends on the amount of precipitation thats normal for a locations climate. A common misconception of droughts is that theyre brought on by periods of no rain or snow. While this certainly can initiate drought conditions, oftentimes the onset of a drought is less noticeable. If youre seeing rain or snow, but are seeing it in lighter amounts a drizzle here and flurries there, rather than steady rain or snow showers this can also signal a drought in-the-making. Of course, you wont be able to determine this as a cause for weeks, months, or even years into the future. Thats because, unlike other forms of severe weather and  natural disasters,  droughts develop slowly from a build-up of small changes in precipitation patterns, rather than from one single event. Atmospheric conditions such as climate change, ocean temperatures, changes in the jet stream, and changes in the local landscape are all culprits in the long story of the causes of droughts. How Droughts Hurt Droughts are some of the most costly economic stressors.  Frequently, droughts are  billion dollar weather events  and are one of the top three threats to population in the world (along with famine and flooding). There are three main ways droughts impact lives and communities: Farmers are often the first to feel the stresses from drought, and feel them hardest. The economic impacts of drought include losses in the timber, agricultural, and fisheries communities. Many of these losses are then passed on to consumers in the form of higher food prices. In less developed countries, once crops fail, famine can become a major problem.   Social impacts include increased chance of conflict over commodities, fertile land, and water resources. Other social impacts include abandonment of cultural traditions, loss of homelands, changes in lifestyle, and increased chance of health risks due to poverty and hygiene issues.The environmental impacts of drought include loss in species biodiversity, migration changes, reduced air quality, and increased soil erosion. Types of Droughts While droughts can be defined in many ways, three main drought types are commonly discussed: Hydrological Drought.  Many watersheds experience depleted amounts of available water. Lack of water in river systems and reservoirs can impact hydroelectric power companies, farmers, wildlife, and communities. Meteorological Drought.  A lack of precipitation is the most common definition of drought and is usually the type of drought referred to in news reports and the media. Most locations around the world have their own meteorological definition of drought based on the climate normals in the area. A normally rainy area that gets less rain than usual can be considered in a drought. Agricultural Drought.  When soil moisture becomes a problem, the agricultural industry is in trouble with drought.  Shortages in precipitation, changes in evapo-transpiration, and reduced ground water levels can create stress and problems for crops.​ US Droughts While droughts dont often cause deaths in the United States, the  Dust Bowl  in the U.S. Midwest is one example of the devastation that can occur.   Other parts of the world experience long periods without rains as well. Even during  monsoon season, areas (such as Africa and India) that depend on seasonal rains will often experience drought if the monsoon rains fail.   Preventing, Predicting, and Preparing for Droughts Want to know how drought is affecting your neighborhood right now? Be sure to monitor these drought resources links: The US Drought Portal  - See how drought impacts your community.The National Drought Mitigation Center - Great details on the difficulties and successes of predicting droughts are available at the NDMC. US Seasonal Drought Outlooks - The National Weather Service provides predictions of the chances of drought across the United States. Updated by Tiffany Means

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Compare and Contrast Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 4

Compare and Contrast - Essay Example Dieting is a very common method adopted for weight control. Most people go with this option because skipping meals apparently seems easier than doing physical workout. Besides, skipping meals has an obvious and quick effect on the body. The concept behind dieting is this; since the body does not get the required nutrients and nutrition, it uses stored energy in the body in the form of fat to self-address its needs. Consumption of this stored energy results in fat loss and accordingly, weight loss. Dieting has many different forms in addition to skipping of meals. These days, a lot of diet programs have evolved that are marketed over social media and the Internet. Some of these programs are based on the consumption of a special kind of tea or medicine while other programs suggest diet plans that can be followed by the interested people. The basic concept is to limit the consumption of fat and carbohydrate in meals, boost the metabolism, and burn the calories. Exercise is another very common method adopted for weight control. This method is based on physical workout. Exercise certainly appears to be more strenuous and physically demanding compared to dieting not only because it involves physical exertion and use of muscles, but also because results take longer to show up than they do in the case of dieting. The concept behind doing exercise is to burn off the calories stored in the body in the form of fat. As an individual runs, stored energy is consumed and fat burns off. Intensity and type of exercise can vary from one person to another depending upon the level of fitness desired, age, gender, and physical stature. Normally, young males do the most intense physical workouts compared to people of all other age-groups. People do exercises in a variety of ways. Some people go to gym regularly. Other people do walk, running, or jogging. People either go to the jogging tracks or use treadmills. While dieting apparently seems easier than doing exercise, in many cases , it might be more difficult and worse than exercising daily. Highly motivated people start doing dieting by missing meals, but as their hunger increases and the motivation starts to subside, they allow themselves to eat. Since they had not eaten for a long time as a result of skipping a meal, they end up eating more than they would have eaten otherwise combined in the two meals. So skipping meals essentially becomes only delaying meals only to end up eating more than usual. Dieting consumes stored energy as a result of which, the person looks very lazy and worn out. Skin becomes lose and the person looks aged and tired even if he/she manages to lose some weight with dieting. These are only some of the disadvantages of dieting. Many diet programs that have surfaced in the recent years are ineffective and their marketed products are actually bad for health. On the other hand, physical workout is a very good exercise routine with multiple advantages. Physical workout not just helps an individual lose weight, but it also makes the individual look fresh and young. Physical workout boosts body metabolism and increases the circulation of blood in all organs of the body. This has a clear and obvious beneficial effect on the functions of the body. Comparing the two options of weight control, exercise far exceeds dieting in effectiveness and advantages. However, neither of the two methods can be considered as alone effective and sufficient in

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

The Housewife who got off the Couch Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Housewife who got off the Couch - Essay Example In an article entitled â€Å"The Housewife Who Got Up Off the Couch,† the story is told of Eleanor Josaitis. Josaitis is a Detroit woman who, as a housewife and mother of five, decided one day that she was going to make a difference in her backyard. Working with other community leaders, Josaitis has been successful in founding a non-profit organization in the heart of Detroit that provides job training and support for low-income families designed to get them off of the poverty rolls. Analyzing the article for evidence of enlightened self-interest provides clues to Josaitis’ goals and ethical principles as well as provides tools for assessing the role of ethics within the business organization. Enlightened self-interest is a basic concept stating that the best way one can help oneself is to help others. The article refers to this type of interest when it illustrates the reasons why Josaitis began getting involved in her community. â€Å"In 1962, as she sat watching a television program about the Nuremberg trials, Josaitis – then a housewife with five children – asked herself what she would have done if atrocities were taking place in her own backyard† (147-148). Discovering that atrocities were taking place in her backyard in the form of the Civil Rights Movement in the South followed by race riots in Detroit, she co-founded the Focus: HOPE organization. Thus, Josaitis was motivated to help others because they were suffering near her own home. Her participation in protest movements in support of the black people’s bid for equal rights is an example of indirect enlightened self-interest in that Josaitis knew something had to change for black peop le but did not see the immediate connection to her personal living situation. This became direct enlightened self-interest when she watched her city burn during race riots, literally

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Benefits of transformational leadership vs other leadership models Essay

Benefits of transformational leadership vs other leadership models - Essay Example This has made it easier for us to identify which method to adopt in a particular situation or nature of business/profession. Within various leadership theories, one widely used leadership model is â€Å"transformational leadership theory†. This paper will discuss the importance of transformation leadership style and how it is better from other leadership models. Transformational Leadership Successful leadership is not only about limited set of traits and actions; it’s about having wide variety of skills, ideas, and approaches to attain a defined goal, and a transformational leader has it all. Such leaders have the following characteristics: Honesty Ability to set understandable and achievable goals Ability to effectively communicate vision Supportive Helps followers fulfill their needs Inspiring personality In simply words, transformational leadership is all about gaining your follower’s trust. This leads to motivation in the team which in turn results in positiv e outcomes. Transformational leader through charismatic methods attract his team members towards him. Transformational leader in addition to having a charismatic, smart and confident personality also realizes the needs of his team members. He clearly understands that in an organization every individual have certain needs which are important to be fulfilled in order for the employers to perform efficiently. James Burns further stated that a true leader is one who not only brings change within the organization and achieve his set goals but also bring positive change in people involved in the project. A leader is called a transformational leader because he has the ability to transform his followers by using the following ways: Effectively communicating the value and importance of the project Making his team members focus on project goal instead of their personal interest Comparison of Transformational Leadership model with other Leadership models The charismatic leaders are known to sp read out enthusiasm, positive energy and passion among their team members or followers. Such type of leaders possesses the ability to attract others towards them with their charisma. Their outstanding personality forces their followers to trust them blindly and have complete faith in them. Therefore, loosing such kind of individuals might lead to confusion within the organization as they make workers believe in their own vision and make them work accordingly. Charismatic leaders tend to be self-confident and principled as carrying out difficult mission requires such characteristics. Due to these characteristics of a charismatic leader, his team members or followers might feel discomfort and uneasiness while working with them. (Judge Bono, 2000) Another author further describes a charismatic leader as an attractive and emotional individual who has the ability to win the emotions of his fellow workers and fulfill their requirements and needs. In order to attract his follower, they nee d to formulate an attractive and smart vision and goals and take steps to achieve these goals. (Khatri, 2005) Charismatic leaders have the talent to easily communicate their thoughts, goals and vision which further strengthens their followers believes in them. This ability in them

Friday, November 15, 2019

Assumptions, research design and data collection strategies

Assumptions, research design and data collection strategies Chapter 1 Introduction The purpose of this assignment is to offer a critical analysis of the underpinning assumptions and research design and data collection strategies and the practice of academic research. Two research papers are chosen for the purpose of this analysis. The first paper is a quantitative study and the second paper is a qualitative study. They are as follows:- Shafer, W. E., Fukukawa, K. and Lee, G. M. (2007) Values and the perceived importance of ethics and social responsibility: The U.S. versus China, Journal of Business Ethics, 70 (3), pp. 265-284. Tsoi, J. (2007) Stakeholders perceptions and future scenarios to improve corporate social responsibility in Hong Kong and Mainland China, Journal of Business Ethics, pp. 1-14. The main reason for selecting these two papers is that they both report upon the area of corporate social responsibility, which is the focus of my PhD. Within the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR), there has been considerable research discussing the relationship between values and perception with the attitude/behaviour of businesses towards CSR. These values are considered quantifiable and thus have been measured quantitatively using scales developed by authors such as Forsyth (1980), Singhapakdi et al.(1996), and Vitell and Patwardhan (2008). Interviews have been used to bring forward the values that are deemed important by stakeholders, and were explored qualitatively by Fukukawa and Teramoto (2009), Siltaoja (2006), and Là ¤hdesmà ¤ki and Siltaoja (2009). The two papers selected both looked at cross-cultural values and perceptions, however, they utilise different methods of investigation. This difference could provide a good basis for comparison, in terms of philosophical assumptions, research design, and the method of data collection. The analyses will begin for each paper with an introduction of the research aims, followed by the epistemological and ontological position, the research design, followed by analysis of its research methodology, the alternative research design and lastly, conclusions from this discussion will be provided. Chapter 2 Review of Quantitative Research paper 2.1 Research Objectives This study by Shafer, Fukukawa and Lee (2007) examined the values and the perceived importance of ethics and social responsibility on managers from China and the U.S. The authors used scales instruments to obtain quantitative data in order to make inferences on whether the managers nationality and personal values have effect on their ethical perception. The American and Chinese managers are assumed to differ in their personal values and subsequently this should be reflected from their responses to the â€Å"Perceived Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility† (PRESOR) scale. The authors provided the relevant background information and built up the reasoning for their hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that managers from China would believe less strongly than American managers in the importance of ethically and socially responsible conduct to achieve organisational success. The second hypothesis was that both American and Chinese managers personal values are believed to have significant impact on the responses to the scale. These hypotheses seem to correlate strongly with the research objectives which are to determine that there is variation in response due to cultural differences. 2.2 Epistemological and Ontological Assumptions It is likely that the authors based their research on moral philosophy which â€Å"refers in particular to the principles of rules that people use to decide what is right or wrong† (Ferrell, Fraedrich and Ferrell, 2005:19). This paper seems to indicate that the principles of rules of managers of different cultures are likely to differ and thus ethical decision-making would vary. The authors provided examples of other empirical research to support this notion. The assumption that personal values can influence ethical decisions shows that the research is likely to infer an ontological assumption of realist, whereby reality is seen to have an existence independent of the activities of the human observer (Blaikie, 2007:13). As the research strives to compare values and perceptions, these elements are thought to be measurable and quantifiable; seemingly leaning towards the empiricism position in which the key idea is that knowledge comes from observing the world (Blaikie, 2007:19). The authors employed deductive research whereby the â€Å"hypotheses formed are tested to determine if the statements can be supported† (Sekaran, 2003:31), which is a typical research approach of empiricists. Taking possibly the stance of positivists, these values are assumed measureable, and are thus thought to form the social reality that these values affect the perception of corporate social responsibility amongst the managers from these two countries. 2.3 Research Design The intention is to establish the differences in personal values, by using large quantities of data, which would be representative of the overall population of American and Chinese managers. This suggests that there are two assumptions, that values are measureable and that it is possible to generalise the population from the sample. In order to generalise, a considerably large amount of data is required, thus a survey research instrument was employed. The PRESOR scale developed by Singhapakdi et al. (1995) was used. The reasons that the PRESOR scale was chosen over the cultural dimensions formed by Hofstede (2001) were argued; examples of the latter in other research were shown to be inconsistent and inconclusive in its directional impact, thus making theoretical predictions difficult. The use of PRESOR scale in other research was exemplified and seemed to have established the reliability of its measurement. The PRESOR scale was explained further in the introduction of the paper. Thirteen out of sixteen original items were selected and the authors justified this by stating that only these thirteen items had significant factor loadings in the Singhapakdi, Scott and Franke (1999:25) study. These items were grouped into two categories; the Stockholder and the Stakeholder views. The Stakeholder View reflects the importance of ethics and social responsibility to organisational survival and success, whilst the Stockholder view indicates that organisational success depends on more than just profitability and obligations to the stockholders (Axinn et al., 2004:104) In the methodology section, the Schwartz value instrument and a demographic questionnaire were mentioned as being used together with the PRESOR scale. There was little mention of the reasons the Schwartz scale was used and how it was applied. It was only later in the appendix that the items considered in the Schwartz scale was provided in details. A clearer explanation could have improved the clarity of the paper. The research design employed the use of two research instruments (PRESOR scale and Schwartz value instrument) as means for data collection. The sample of practising managers from the two different countries was given the same survey to complete, thus the responses could be compared on that basis. The results from the analyses were then compared against the hypotheses formed, affirming or not affirming the hypotheses. This process is typical of the deductive approach (Blaikie, 2007:70). 2.4 Data Collection The sample consisted of 311 practising managers, enrolled part time in selective MBA programmes in the U.S. and China. The participation was voluntary and the scales were completed as an in-class exercise. The authors acknowledged potential problems from this sample selection. The first is that, although the MBA programmes in these two countries appear to be comparable, the sample may have confounded the effects of national differences and MBA programme differences. Secondly, the sample was not randomly selected as the authors had asked their students to complete the scales in-class. The authors did not provide further justification for these two problems and thus this is believed to have weakened the external validity of this investigation (Bryman and Bell, 2007:204). Aside from this comment from the authors, there was very little mention of the validity of the measurement which makes it difficult to make further discussion on this. The basis of their selectivity and the criteria in which these programmes were said to be comparable, were also not provided in details. The details of its comparability may have helped clarify and strengthen the validity of the selection criteria, as well as making the paper more understandable. Considering the objectives of the research, in which the authors seem to be looking at making generalisations on the affect of personal values, there is a need to collect large quantities of data. The survey method seems to be appropriate as surveys are easy to distribute to large number of people and costs can be kept to a minimum (Bryman and Bell, 2007:195). This relates to external validity, which is â€Å"about generalisability of results beyond the focal study† (Easterby-Smith et al., 2008:87). In this paper, external validity was not discussed; however, it is likely that the results are meant to be applicable for the context of China and the U.S. only. The authors stated the limitation of which the participants can not be assumed as representative of the broader populations of managers in these two countries, due to the fact that the MBA programmes were selective in nature. The research took consideration of the possibility that the age and experience differences of their sample might affect the results, and thus these factors were examined for significance. The scale was translated to Mandarin Chinese and later back-translated with resolution of discrepancies, to take account of the language difference. These examples seem to reflect on the effort of the authors in ensuring that the results are not significantly affected by other variables. In order to test the dimensionality of the PRESOR scale, a principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation and Kaiser normalisation was applied. This is typical of a quantitative study where factor analysis is usually applied as part of the research design. In terms of research replication, this research had provided considerable amount of information which would possibly allow other researchers to perform similar research. The items from the two views (Stockholder and Stakeholder) of the PRESOR scale were provided in details. In addition, the authors also mentioned the calculation method used, such as the use of mean values and the Univariate Analysis of Covariance models (ANCOVA). The only exception would probably be the PRESOR scale itself, whereby the questions that were asked and the choice answers were not explicitly given, which might mean that future researchers might find it difficult to replicate the research and might even have to approach the authors or Singhapakdi who developed the scale. 2.5 Alternative Method The authors mentioned that more in-depth examination using qualitative design of investigation such as interviews would perhaps be more revealing. It is agreed that qualitative measure would allow insights into the importance of ethics to managers, and the various ethical issues that managers prioritise. The researchers are more likely to obtain a richer data of the decision-making process of managers, at the same time; they would be able to achieve the research objectives. The researchers can make use of semi-structured type interview which will allow better control of what questions need to be asked, and to ensure that the objectives of the interview are achieved as well (Bryman and Bell, 2007:474), if time and costs are constraints. There are also other alternatives methods to obtain qualitative data that would have fit this research, such as the use of focus groups. Focus group interviews allow researchers to observe the behaviour of the American and Chinese managers as they interact with each other. It would be possible to see the differences in reaction to ethical issues much more clearly, when these managers are given, for example, the same ethical dilemma, and they are required to rationalise the problem and come up with solutions. This method might be more useful than questionnaire surveys, particularly in that the values of the American and Chinese managers could be brought out through the way they respond and react to ethical problems, the problem-rationalisation process, and the degree of attention paid on a particular problem. Similar to the interview method, this would be considerably more costly to conduct, and it might even be more costly than doing interviews, however, the researchers would gain no t only in achieving the research objectives but they would also attain a better understanding of the effects of personal values in ethical decision-making. However, if the goal was only to establish that perception of CSR differs between diverse cultures, the research design would have fit the purpose. This is because the data collection strategy used (questionnaire survey), allowed the authors to obtain considerably response for generalisation. A questionnaire survey would also have been more cost-efficient and less time consuming, especially for cross-cultural studies. Chapter 3 Review of Qualitative Research paper 3.1 Research Objectives In this second paper, this qualitative study aims to make apparent the perceptions and views of the future scenarios from stakeholders within the garment industry in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The underlying intention was to seek consensus and common ground, on a local and regional level to help companies develop an appropriate CSR strategy, to improve the state of corporate social responsibility and in the long run, to achieve sustainability in the region. The main objective was stated as â€Å"by engaging with major stakeholders, to identify the local and regional supply chain stakeholders perceptions and expectations† (Tsoi, 2007:1). Typical of a qualitative study, generalisation is often not the objective of the study (Bryman and Bell, 2007:410). This is apparent from this study as the author had mentioned that the sample may not be sufficient for generalisation for the entire garment industry, however, it is â€Å"relevant to garment businesses involved in export-orientated activities† (Tsoi, 2007:1). Tsoi (2007) used an inductive approach to identify the perceptions of stakeholders by conducting interviews. 3.2 Epistemological and Ontological Assumptions Although the author did not indicate the philosophical assumptions behind this study, the author implied that by identifying the stakeholders perception, â€Å"the findings would help in building consensus, strengthening the implementation, and establishing future CSR framework†. This suggests that the author has an ontological position of constructionism, which asserts that social phenomena and their meanings are continually being accomplished by social actors, implying that there exists social interaction and that there is a constant state of revision of the social phenomena (Bryman and Bell, 2007:23). In this case study, the social reality of what is happening in the garment industry, in terms of its corporate social responsibility, is a social reality that was formed by the stakeholders. It suggests that the social phenomena (condition of CSR) can undergo changes, and that it is dependent on the activities of the social actors. The views of the social actors are thought to be indicative of the important issues in corporate social responsibility, within the garment industry. This form of research is consistent with the research paradigm of the interpretivist position, as the basis of the research is that the study of the phenomena requires an understanding of the social world that social actors have constructed and which they reproduced through their continuing activities (Blaikie, 2007:124). In this instance, the stakeholders are the social actors who will continually interpret and reinterpreting their social world which can be the garment industry. The social phenomenon that the author is investigating is the current state and the future of the corporate social responsibility in Hong Kong and Mainland China. The future conception of CSR in these two places is related to phenomenology, whereby, it concerns with the question of how individuals make sense of the world around them (Bryman and Bell, 2007:18). In this case, it can be viewed as the way stakeholders make sense of the state of corporate responsibility in the region. 3.3 Research Design The author relied on a qualitative method, specifically, the face-to-face semi-structured interview, which indicates the leanings of the author in â€Å"conducting a naturalistic inquiry in real-world rather than experimental or manipulated settings† (Ritchie and Lewis, 2003:4). For qualitative studies, semi-structured and unstructured interviews are commonly used as they provide rich, detailed answers and taps into the interviewees point of view (Bryman and Bell, 2007:474). As the focal source of data was the stakeholders themselves in this study, this seems to infer that the research design is based on the interpretivist view that the â€Å"social phenomena can only be understood and be investigated from the inside† (Blaikie, 2007:125). The author identified major stakeholders possibly with stakeholder theory, stating the assumption â€Å"that multinationals see stakeholder consultation and management as an important communication tool in identifying and interpreting the needs of salient stakeholders† and as such would enable â€Å"the development of a common language for CSR and subsequently the development of proactive CSR strategies†. This correlates with the stakeholder approach of Wheeler et al. (2003:19) who stated that â€Å"value creation at the highest level requires an ability to build value-based networks where all stakeholders see merit in their association with and support for a business†. In this instance, it is likely that the stakeholders were deemed to be important in the future direction of CSR in the region, and this was the reason that stakeholders were chosen as source of data. The author mentioned that these interviews conducted in 2004 and 2005 may no longer be relevant, since there were major developments in 2008. This might have made the interviews slightly outdated however; there should not be many changes to the overall aims of the stakeholders and thus the outcomes of this research would remain valid. However, as an alternative, the author could have applied longitudinal design which â€Å"represents a distinct form of research design than is typically used to map change in business and management research† (Bryman and Bell, 2007:60). The longitudinal design would not only serve the purpose of this study, but it would also allow insights into the factors that cause change to the perception. With this sample, it is possible to use cohort study, whereby â€Å"the cohort is made up of people who share a certain characteristics† (Bryman and Bell, 2007:61), since the stakeholders have a stake in the garment industry. However, longitudinal re search may require a lot more preparation, could be time-consuming and thus it could be more costly. 3.4 Data Collection With regards to the methodology, the interview questions that were used for this research was not provided. As this was a semi-structured interview, it would have been useful if the author had provided general information on how the questions were formed, and the structure of the interview questions as this would provide an indication of the depth of the interviews, and hence the validity of the research design. For the sample, 25 representatives from academia, the business organisations, the non-government organisations, trade association, and government officials were identified. The response rate was 84%, in which 21 out of a total of 25 representatives of these organisations agreed to be interviewed. It was mentioned that the reason for such a high response rate, was that the author had contacted the interviewees on a one-to-one basis. Furthermore, the interviewees were also guaranteed anonymity. The sample, thus, appears to be extensive and is representative of the various stakeholders that are vital in the garment industry. 3.5 Alternative Method The intention was that the â€Å"findings would help in building consensus, strengthening the implementation and establishing the future CSR framework† (Tsoi, 2007:1). The author might have meant that having collected all the different views from these stakeholders, the author would be able to determine the consensus of how CSR should be developed and how CSR should be like in the future. However, it is doubtful that a consensus could have been obtained using this method of analysis. The interviewees, although were representative of the garment industry, each one a vital stakeholder, there was no real interaction between these stakeholders, and thus, the consensus that is meant is only based on the researchers understanding from the interviewees responses. Stakeholders are thought to be able to reach a better compromise through discourse, with different sides arguing for the validity of their point as well as ensuring that the interests of the group or association that they re present are taken account of (Bryman and Bell, 2007:511). While it is understandable, that there is a strong possibility that it could be costly to get all the interviewees to sit together through a discourse, nevertheless there are alternatives which might be more useful for the purpose of this investigation, given that the objective is to reach a consensus amongst the stakeholders. With this reasoning, the research design could improve by firstly conveying the findings of the interviews to all of the stakeholders interviewed, and follow up with another interview to see if there were changes to their views. Alternatively, the author could use the method of focus group interviews. With this method, Merton et al. (1956) (in Bryman and Bell, 2007:511) stated that the â€Å"accent is upon interaction within the group and the joint construction of meaning†. Focus group interviews could provide a platform for the interviewees to interact and to establish a joint construction of what it means to strengthen CSR and also determine what future scenarios should and could be like. With regards to selecting a suitable size for the focus group, it is recommended by Bryman and Bell (2007:517) that the typical group size should be six to ten members, whilst Sekaran (2003:220) recommends a size of eight to twelve members. The reason that the focus group interview method was recommended was that the interviewees would be encouraged to express their opinions argumentatively, which would then allow the researcher to gauge the degree of importance of certain issues and how much flexibility the interv iewees might have to reach a compromise with others. There are of course possible pitfalls using the focus group method, in that some interviewees might be dominant over others, and thus the opinions of those less dominant might not be heard, but these effects can be reduced to a minimum level by having a good moderator (in Bryman and Bell, 2007:511). The one-to-one interview method could still be more advantageous compared with the focus group interview, as the time and monetary costs of conducting a one-to-one interview would probably be considerably less and thus be more manageable especially if there was only one researcher, as was with this case study. In this case study, it seemed that a quantitative design would actually be difficult to apply, and it would also be inappropriate for an investigation on the perception of CSR as a business concern. Taking the example of using a questionnaire survey with closed-ended questions, it is very likely that the respondents would answer that they are very concerned about CSR, as that might be perceived as the correct response, thus creating social desirability bias to the results. Furthermore, with a questionnaire survey, the researcher would not be able to pin-point all the various future scenarios for CSR in Hong Kong and Mainland China, even if it was possible, the list of future scenarios might be too long to be practically manageable. Another issue would be that in making assumptions of the future scenarios that are deemed significant to the stakeholders, it would be problematic as the researcher might risk missing out relevant information. Therefore, it would be difficult, from these r easons, that a quantitative design would not be suitable for such a case study. Chapter 4 Conclusions In summary, the two papers reflect significant differences in their research approach. This was seen through the objectives of the research, the underlying assumptions of the research philosophy and the conceptualisation of research design and the data collection. There is certainly much to learn from these two research papers, both had given valuable information on the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods, as well as offer guidance on the selection of research method and how to go about utilising these methods. The research designs, as shown in these papers, are dependent of the research objectives and the designs are also influenced by the epistemological and ontological assumptions made. Even though the philosophical positions of the researchers were not made explicit, however, the likely positions can be assumed. These papers have also shown that the advantages and the disadvantages of the different methods of investigation, and they need to be considered to e nsure that the best method is chosen for the purpose of the research. In these two papers, the method of investigation is distinct, one was a qualitative study and the other was a quantitative study, however, this does not necessarily mean that a mixed method of investigation can not be used. In fact, (Bryman and Bell, 2007:646) suggested that triangulation can be applied, in which â€Å"the results of an investigation employing a method associated with one research strategy are cross-checked against the results of using a method associated with the other research strategy†.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Pacemakers Allow Millions to Live Life to the Fullest :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers

Pacemakers Allow Millions to Live Life to the Fullest I always thought that pacemakers were for old people or people that had really serious heart conditions. My opinion of that drastically changed last summer after my then eighteen year old friend had to have one implanted. I never new how pacemakers worked or what they did, I just knew that you could not ride roller coasters if you have one. My fascination with pacemakers all started last summer. It was right after graduation and my friends and I were all enjoying the summer. Then during the early hours of June 4th I received the scariest call ever. My friend Mike called and said that Brian's heart stopped beating and he was being rushed to the hospital. I immediately threw on some shoes and headed out the door. The whole way to the hospital I kept thinking, what happened? Brian was one of the healthiest people that I know. He worked out a lot and always ate right. He was in perfect shape. When I reached the hospital I met up with Brian's family and our friends. No one knew what happened and even the doctors still weren't sure what caused Brian's heart to stop. We spent the whole night praying and waiting for a miracle. I remember the day like it was yesterday, we just had prom and graduation and then here Brian was lying in a hospital bed unconscious. I just couldn't understand, the doctors speculated that it might have been from alcohol or drugs but Brian would never do that. Then they thought that maybe he had a seizure caused by a brain aneurysm, but that still wasn't right. To this day we still do not know what caused his heart to stop. Anyways, the doctors thought that Brian should have a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted so if this scary event reoccurred again his heart would start automatically. I did not understand what a pacemaker was but I was for anything that would help prolong my best friend's life. The pacemaker was implanted a few days before Brian was supposed to leave the hospital and he returned home after just two days recovery. After that he took it easy for a few months, and then was back to his normal old self. I did not know what a pacemaker did until about a month ago when we had to choose a research topic. Pacemakers Allow Millions to Live Life to the Fullest :: Exploratory Essays Research Papers Pacemakers Allow Millions to Live Life to the Fullest I always thought that pacemakers were for old people or people that had really serious heart conditions. My opinion of that drastically changed last summer after my then eighteen year old friend had to have one implanted. I never new how pacemakers worked or what they did, I just knew that you could not ride roller coasters if you have one. My fascination with pacemakers all started last summer. It was right after graduation and my friends and I were all enjoying the summer. Then during the early hours of June 4th I received the scariest call ever. My friend Mike called and said that Brian's heart stopped beating and he was being rushed to the hospital. I immediately threw on some shoes and headed out the door. The whole way to the hospital I kept thinking, what happened? Brian was one of the healthiest people that I know. He worked out a lot and always ate right. He was in perfect shape. When I reached the hospital I met up with Brian's family and our friends. No one knew what happened and even the doctors still weren't sure what caused Brian's heart to stop. We spent the whole night praying and waiting for a miracle. I remember the day like it was yesterday, we just had prom and graduation and then here Brian was lying in a hospital bed unconscious. I just couldn't understand, the doctors speculated that it might have been from alcohol or drugs but Brian would never do that. Then they thought that maybe he had a seizure caused by a brain aneurysm, but that still wasn't right. To this day we still do not know what caused his heart to stop. Anyways, the doctors thought that Brian should have a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted so if this scary event reoccurred again his heart would start automatically. I did not understand what a pacemaker was but I was for anything that would help prolong my best friend's life. The pacemaker was implanted a few days before Brian was supposed to leave the hospital and he returned home after just two days recovery. After that he took it easy for a few months, and then was back to his normal old self. I did not know what a pacemaker did until about a month ago when we had to choose a research topic.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

President Franklin Roosevelt’s Foreign Policies

Foreign policies, although sometimes similar, varies from administration to administration. The policy makers, who are normally the closest aids or sometimes-even confidants, tend to have tremendous influences on these guiding principles. The foreign policies of America have help shaped the world as it is today, whether by providing aids to countries that have no structural governments or by defending American interest abroad. An example of these policies is president Franklin Roosevelt’s quarantine speech, given on 5th October 1937. Adolf Hitler and the fascist Italian Prime Minister Benito Mussolini are irrefutably threatening the world’s peace. In an effort to protect the peace, President Roosevelt’s quarantine speech seems to be a devised policy that would counter such a threat. A major setback however is that the neutrality acts has been passed by congress, curtailing America’s capability of backing and or supporting nations with whom we empathize. Sources in the White House indicate that the president may find other ways of assisting friendly countries. In his speech, the president has articulated concerns about the agonies guiltless people face. Women and children are mostly susceptible to these bombings. Without the declaration of war, they are the primary casualties of war. Although collateral damage is inevitable, the suggestion by the president is that prevention can be achieved by mainly placing political and economic pressures on the aggressors. He said, â€Å"The one country that wants to be a power monger jeopardizes the peace of the other nations. However, the country, which respects the freedom of other nations, which exercises patience with consideration of the other countries, earns the longstanding mutual respect and the approval of others. † He concluded by stating that just as when a pandemic breaks out, the population approves the quarantine of the patients; the quarantine of discrimination and ruthlessness were going to be headstrong, it is necessary for the United States to stay away from war. In his words, the president alleged, â€Å"America hates war, American hopes for peace. Therefore America actively engages in the search for peace. † This speech coupled with the aggressiveness of Germany and her allies has aroused a surprisingly mixed reaction within the country, especially amongst the isolationists. Then again, it appears that the president does not have any particular programs or plans in mind to combat the rising issue at hand. In an effort to pressure the United States and reiterate the Open Door policy in China, a delegation was sent to a meeting with the 1922 signatories of the Nine-Power Treaty in Brussels. Meanwhile, the Japanese just seized the Chinese city of Shanghai and continue to penetrate deep into the country at the cost of 100,000 lives. As it stands, it is very likely that America will be going to war due to the Japanese bombings of the U. S. gunboat Panay on the Yangtze River in China while sailors were helping the evacuation of Americans from the embassy in Nanking. Again, America has escaped the tides of war as the Japanese conformed to American demands of apology and reparations. In the meantime, the imminence of war in Europe has driven the Roosevelt administration into seeking assistance for the British and French and still isolationists refute the idea of war. An example is William Borah, Senator of Idaho, who obstinately insists that his sources are more reliable than that of State Department, and according to them, war is unlikely. Despite all the efforts, the outbreak of war in Europe and the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor has led the United States to war with the belligerents.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Possessive Pronouns Formation and Usage

Possessive Pronouns Formation and Usage Possessive pronouns are used to show ownership of an item or an idea. Possessive pronouns are very similar to possessive adjectives and its easy to confuse the two. Here are some examples of possessive pronouns immediately followed by possessive adjectives that are different in structure, but similar in meaning. Possessive Pronouns Examples That dog is hers.That beautiful house on the hill is theirs.The two motorcycles parked over there are his. Possessive Adjective Examples Her dog is over there.Their house on the hill is beautiful.His two motorcycles are parked over there. The easiest way to make sure you are using a possessive pronoun is to notice the placement. Possessive pronouns are always placed at the end of a sentence. They are not placed directly before the noun they modify which is the case for other possessive forms. Possessive Pronoun Usage Possessive pronouns are used to indicate possession when pointing out something to someone. Sentences using possessive pronouns generally use other modifiers to point something out and claim ownership. Examples Whose car is that? Its mine. Its mine.Wheres their house? That house is theirs. Possessive pronouns  are only used when the object of possession (what is yours, hers, ours, etc.) is understood from the context. In other words, what is possessed is usually referred to in a previous statement. The possessive pronoun is then used to clarify to whom the object belongs. Here is a list of possessive pronouns. I - mineYou - yoursHe - hisShe - hersWe - oursYou - yoursThey - theirs Is this your lunch? - No, that one over there is mine.Whose tennis rackets are those? - Theyre yours!Whose house is it? - Its his.Do you know who that belongs to? - Its hers.This isnt your house. Its oursWhose cars are these? - Theyre yours.Whose dog is that? - Its theirs. Possessive nouns are also be used in the same manner as possessive pronouns when stating that something belongs to someone in particular. Examples Whose cell phone is that? - Its Johns.Who do these computers belong to? - Theyre our parents. Possessive Pronoun Checklist Possessive pronouns are used when the object of possession is understood from the contextPlace possessive pronouns directly at end of sentencesPossessive pronouns are very similar in usage to possessive adjectivesPossessive pronouns are used when the context is clear who is in possession of an objectNote the similarity in form between possessive pronouns and adjectives Use these resources for more detailed information on other individual possessive forms: Possessive Nouns - For example, Johns house, the bicycles color, etc.Possessive Adjectives - For example, our neighborhood, his niece, etc. This general guide to possessive forms quickly compares all three types of possessive forms.

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Anti-social Behavior and Family Interaction Essay Example

Anti Anti-social Behavior and Family Interaction Paper Anti-social Behavior and Family Interaction Paper Anti-social behavioral patterns are sometimes associated not only with familial upbringing, but sometimes, such concept is also linked with biological intrinsic character (Siegel and Welsh, 2004 p.60). The theoretical frameworks of biological and social domain are primarily integrative and evidently in continuous progressive interactions along with other contributory domains, such as psychological, environmental, and intrinsic character ((Abbott, 2001 p.79; Vito et al., 2007 p.100). In terms of biological domain, the primary concept involves the physical morphology, and external-internal attributes of an individual. Such domain emphasizes on the characteristics present on the individual, which establish the unique capacity and traits that identifies the person’ intrinsic attributes. Social domain covers the integration of an individual with relationships, attachments, and commitments present in the societal functioning. In addition to social domain, the community is the prime environment and the fundamental constituents of this factor are the prime contributors that influence the individual’s social capacity (Abbott, 2001 p.79). By integrating the two proposed perspectives, the conceptual idea of biosocial theoretical framework forms as the integrative domain of both physical and communal attributes. Biosocial theory assumes that the probable cause of individual’s delinquency originates not only on the individual’s genetic make-up and personality traits. As for this theory, biological negates the concept that an individual initiating an anti-social behavior, which also requires environmental declaration or initiation, such as environmental stressors, familial or social strain, etc (Siegel, 2006 p.150). With the theory presented, anti-social behavior is justified to be innate and naturally present (Warren, 2000 p.132). The test measures implicated in the study is the validation and provision of support-based interlinking causalities that explains the theoretical contribution in anti-social behavior occurrences. With familial interaction and setting as the primary center, the possible occurrences are linked to such factors in order to explain the etiology of anti-social behavior. Scope and Limitation The study aims to integrate the theoretical framework and occurrence of anti-social behavior attributed through familial interaction. With the imposed primary goal, the study shall direct its overview in order to attest the probable links between the phenomena imposed and the theoretical theory covered, biosocial theory. The research shall utilize literature review that includes validated and well-supported previous research writings, which provides substantial backbone of the overall study discussion. With critical analysis and data interpretation of the data gathered, the study shall provide the overall conclusion that should satisfy the probabilities related to main goal of the research.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

The Importance of Outside Classroom Activities in Promoting Oral Essay

The Importance of Outside Classroom Activities in Promoting Oral Fluency in an EFL Context - Essay Example Consequently, creating opportunities outside the classroom for students to speak English is an effective strategy in compensating for students’ limited use of the L2. Research studies have shown that external classroom activities have equal significance in enabling students learn English as a second language. In addition, it has been asserted that such activities provide a non-educational environment from which a student may feel free and comfortable to acquire new language skills. This study investigates the significance of outside classroom activities in promoting students’ oral proficiency. In addition, it reports on students’ perceptions of such activities. Fifteen participants from the American University of Kuwait took part in this study. Open-ended interviews were done to find out what the participants thought of these activities, and what they gained from them. Interview results show that students found outside classroom activities very effective in improving not only their oral fluency skills, but their confidence and critical thinking skills as well. The implications of this research study are for language practitioners and language programs in the EFL context to be aware of the benefits of incorporating outside classroom activities in language teaching. Approximations indicate that in the beginning of the 21st century, around 400-500 million English speakers existed [1]. Obviously, by now the number has dramatically increased. The reason for that is many countries have picked up English as the primary foreign language as the world continues to connect more and more. In these countries, it is estimated that there is 20-30% of the population that speaks English. Thus, the author notes that around 1.5 to 2 billion English speakers exist worldwide. The numbers are inclusive of native language speakers who use English as their first language, and non-native English speakers who use English as their secondary language. While studying English in

Friday, November 1, 2019

Select one skill from the Year 1 Essential Skill Clusters that you Essay

Select one skill from the Year 1 Essential Skill Clusters that you achieved in your first practice placement and had signed by y - Essay Example She also gave me pointers on how I could improve in my next placement. The mentor also provided feedback from the patients, and through such feedback, I found out that the patients liked me talking to them and smiling at them. In general therefore, I performed well. Part 1: Gibbs Reflective cycle Description (What happened?) The incident involved my clinical placement with a community hospital which houses 19 inpatient beds, an A & E Department, Physiotherapy, and X-Ray/Ultrasound facilities. Their services include rehabilitation for patients having gone through accidents or minor injuries with a team of professionals including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and social workers/case managers. During this placement, I was able to apply various skills and take part in various nursing interventions. One of the activities I was able to participate in is the handover during multidisciplinary team meetings. The meeting comprised of various nurses and other healt h professionals caring for different patients. To protect patients’ confidentiality in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct, patients’ consent for care were sought before any essential nursing services were offered (NMC Code of Conduct Domain 2.8). I administered care to patients in the ward, assisting in wound cleaning and vital signs monitoring. The handover multidisciplinary meetings were done weekly with nurses bringing all the folders for the patients in the bay and giving a handover to everyone attending the meeting. I participated in giving handovers to about two patients a week. Members of the team ask questions about the patients I would be handing over, and I would explain what I can about each patient. At times, my mentor would help me explain further about each patient. The patients’ attending physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, dieticians, and social workers were present in the meeting. I reported about the patientsâ₠¬â„¢ vital signs, oftentimes indicating possible changes and unstable levels for patients. I also expressed that some patients had a low threshold for pain. The Gibbs reflection style was used for this paper because it provides an orderly and detailed process of reflection. It also allows for an in-depth assessment of details and interventions used during the incident being evaluated. Feelings (What I was thinking and feeling) I felt like my contribution to the team was an important contribution and I was also assured with the fact that the other members of the team listened and welcomed my comments and contribution to the handover meetings. I also listened to them as they shared their expertise on patient care. At times however, I found the discussion intimidating because the members of the team are experts in their field. I felt however, that I needed to be more assertive during these discussions in order to ensure that my contributions to the discussion would be heard. Evaluation (What was good and bad about the incident) What was good about the incident was that it taught me that the contributions of the team in the care of a patient are effective means by which improved patient outcomes can be gained. By attending the handover multidisciplinary meetings, I was able to endorse the patient and communicate their essential needs based on my assessment. With the assistance of my mentor, I was also able to be effective during the handover meetings. What was bad about the experience was that there were

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Should state legislatures be removed from the redistricting process Essay

Should state legislatures be removed from the redistricting process for congress and their own seats and would doing so improve - Essay Example In the US, redistricting is fundamentally political because legislators are responsible to draw electoral districts in many states. Courts have been intervening in the process to a great extent. These aspects of redistricting are inter-related and have made the process highly controversial because the outcomes are mostly prejudiced in favoring one political party over another. Redistricting matters a lot because people’s representatives in the state and federal governments frame regulations, which impact several issues such as taxes, security, prices and the environment in which people live. This paper will examine whether state legislatures should be removed from the redistricting process for Congress and whether doing so will improve the public policy process. Main Body Elections are held at regular intervals in ensuring that people’s representatives work towards welfare activities. All state legislators and many legislators in the Congress represent districts that pa rtition states and voters into geographical regions. In majority districts, voters are eventually represented by legislators that win the maximum votes. The manner in which voters are assembled into districts has a strong bearing on the people that will represent them and the kind of policies they will follow. For instance, a district comprising mainly of farmers will, in all probability elect a legislator who will work towards their cause. But a district that comprises of mainly urban citizens would in all probability elect a person who has different concerns. In similar vein, regions characterized with groups of similar language, ethnicity, race and political lineage will probably elect a person with similar characteristics. Therefore, the manner in which the districts are created can impact the constitution of the legislature. It is thus apparent that there would be different legislators if the districts are drawn in different ways. The process of redistricting mostly draws a lot of attention and controversies are created because the process determines the communities that will be represented and the laws that will be made (Griffith, 2011). Redistricting is resorted to in the United States in reacting to change in populations that are determined by the outcomes of the census. The state legislature is vested with the authority to create redistricting plans that are in some cases subject to the governor’s approval. Every state in the US has its own law and constitutional requirements to redistrict. There are some aspects of the law concerning the federal government that have been introduced following decisions by the US Supreme Court. The Congress established the Voting Rights Act in 1965 that was amended in 1982. The Congress also exerts some control in the context of putting restrictions on the creation of electoral boundaries during the redistricting process. The courts in the US have played a major role in developing and interpreting redistricting laws. Essentially, a redistricting plan should create districts that have a balanced population and should not reduce the say of minority voters. In order to improve upon the public policy process, the redistricting plan should give credence to conventional redistricting issues such as contiguity, density and respect towards political subdivisions and communities (Canon, 1999). According to Halper and Simon (2011), removing state

Monday, October 28, 2019

Law Enforcement Essay Example for Free

Law Enforcement Essay The two strengths of community policing that I thought was important are being able to build are try to build a better rapport with the community and citizen better than what you already have. The second strength is to try to build a rapport with the kids in the community and keep them out of trouble, getting into gangs, and using are selling drugs. So I think when community policing are being done throughout the community that gives the police officer to become community educators, planners and organizers, which in the end it allows the police officers to appreciate their citizens as well as to learn how to work together with them, not to mention It will allow the citizens to trust them more than they do. The two limitations of community policing that I have chosen are lack of educational opportunities and lack of parental involvement. The reason why is because some of our parents have came to a point where they really don’t care what they child do, were they go, are who they hang with. Parents these days don’t follow up on their child/children were about as long as that child is out of the house that’s all that matter but thanks to the school system they have a system that calls home whenever the child/children are absent. The Police can’t do this along the need parents help to also keep the crimes of our children down and to lead them into the right direction so parents let’s get involve with our kids and not just our kids all kids they need some kind of guidance. Explain how political, economic, and demographic characteristics of a community impact community policing. Well in my community we have PAL, neighborhood watch, and citizen on patrols. PALs are a group of police officer that are mostly talkative and athletic that gather up our youth and engage them into different activities that they like to keep them off the streets during the day and they are very active with our kids they even take them places on the weekend. They have different sport activities that they play so they can stay active threw the week most of their games are on Saturdays, they even take the kids to different places like the movies, skating, bowling, etc. I really think it’s a awesome program for the youths. The only thing to this program is the child that are considered a problem child has to want to change and for the ones that’s not their dedicated to the program because they don’t want to change they want to stay that respectful child they alw ays been. Our Neighborhood watch programs usually are the police that are just getting on the force besides the neighbors. The ride there bikes threw the neighborhood to make sure no one is out of the ordinary they be in cars also they usually stop and talk to kids that they see and give the younger one stickers. Citizens on patrol are older people that live in the neighborhood and volunteer to work with the police department to ride through neighborhoods in a patrol car to make sure nothing unusual is in the neighborhood. I really think all of the programs are great for community policing and the more help from the parents and community they have the less crimes we would have and the citizen will respect the police more.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Bankruptcy Law :: Papers

Bankruptcy Law The federal statute for the form of bankruptcy commonly known as Chapter 13 is cited in legal briefs as 11 USC CHAPTER 13 - ADJUSTMENT OF DEBTS OF AN INDIVIDUAL WITH REGULAR INCOME. Section 1301 this code not only relieves the bankrupt debtor, but it also relieves the codebtor. US Code as of: 01/23/00 Sec. 1301. Stay of action against codebtor (a) Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, after the order for relief under this chapter, a creditor may not act, or commence or continue any civil action, to collect all or any part of a consumer debt of the debtor from any individual that is liable on such debt with the debtor, or that secured such debt, unless - (1) such individual became liable on or secured such debt in the ordinary course of such individual's business; or (2) the case is closed, dismissed, or converted to a case under chapter 7 or 11 of this title. (b) A creditor may present a negotiable instrument, and may give notice of dishonor of such an instrument. (c) On request of a party in interest and after notice and a hearing, the court shall grant relief from the stay provided by subsection (a) of this section with respect to a creditor, to the extent that - (1) as between the debtor and the individual protected under subsection (a) of this section, such individual received the consideration for the claim held by such creditor; (2) the plan filed by the debtor proposes not to pay such claim; or (3) such creditor's interest would be irreparably harmed by continuation of such stay. (d) Twenty days after the filing of a request under subsection (c)(2) of this section for relief from the stay provided by subsection (a) of this section, such stay is terminated with respect to the party in interest making such request, unless the debtor or any individual that is liable on such debt with the debtor files and serves upon such party in interest a written objection to the taking of the proposed action.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Brian Quinn

Dear Ms. Brummel: I have been involved in training clients and designing custom solution with Microsoft products for many years.  Ã‚  Ã‚   I would like the opportunity to see new Microsoft technologies first hand.   Specifically, I am writing to you about the System Administrator (Job code: XXXXXXX) and System Engineer ( Jobcode: 180703) positions I found while browsing the careers section of your website. I am a System Engineer specializing in Novell Netware and Windows 2000/2003 Active Directory.   For the last eight years, I ran a successful consulting business focusing on end-user training and Microsoft Systems support and administration.   Some of my former and current clients include: Onesoft Corporation, Novell, Oppenheimer Funds, Cal State Hayward, Energy Commission, Brigham Young University, Department of Justice, Franklin Covey and Anderson Consulting. In the course of pursuing my business interests I have acquired several professional certifications including: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer , Microsoft Certified Trainer, Microsoft Certified Desktop Technician, Cisco Certified Network Associate( CCNA )and Novell Engineer.  Ã‚   I have 14 years of experience in the IT field; my previous employment is further detailed in the enclosed resume. I feel I can bring my extensive field and training experience to exceed the expectations for a person in the positions available.   I would like to speak with you at your convenience to discuss how I can contribute to Microsoft’s continued success.   I can be reached at (916)789-1779 any time. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Sincerely, Brian Quinn

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Philosophical mindset Essay

Philosophical mindset is the tendency to look at the clearer and broader side of events rather than the events itself. One importance of developing a philosophical mindset is on how we view life in order to be successful. Our philosophical mindset is essential because it is the foundation of our principles that will govern our outlook in life. We act, think, and make decisions based from them. As we undergo different series of events in our life, we need to dig deeper and analyze the factors underlying these events before we make sound decisions so that we can eventually achieve success. The more we understand life, the more meaningful it becomes and ultimately the more we enjoy it. According to the movie The Secret, â€Å"what the mind conceives, the body achieves†. This means that everything that we achieve depends on how we perceive them based from our principles. Socrates said, â€Å"Know thyself†. Before we can develop our philosophical mindset, we have to understand first our self. We don’t merely discover what we want and how do we want to achieve them but we look deeper into why do we want them and why do we want to achieve them that way. In here, we try to see things not as they are but we see them based from reasons behind it. This is the reality of life. Our philosophical mindset will govern how we deal with things not as they appear but as to the reasons why they appear like that. It will lead us to the right decisions based from facts because we have to have a thorough investigation and analization before we decide on something. This elaboration of the importance of philosophical mindset coincides with the previous post which discusses the importance of mindset in evangelism. As quoted, in the area of evangelism, philosophical mindset helps one to understand, respect, and appreciate others point of view. One verse in the bible could be understood differently by each individual depending on the experiences that they have in life. Having a philosophical mindset will let a person see the underlying factors why somebody believes that way or this way.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Heres why you should start your job search this summer

Heres why you should start your job search this summer There are plenty of things in life that we reserve for summers- going to the beach, swimming, and backyard BBQs are just a few. But what about job searching? If you’re in-between jobs or are thinking about a career change, you may be wondering when is the best time of year to plan your job hunt. Is now the time to strike, or is it better to wait until the humidity passes before ramping up your search? The truth is, if you’re out of work and need a paycheck, you might not have the option to delay your job search until the fall season returns. However, you may be currently employed or in no big rush to make your next career move, and are questioning whether or not to take the summer off from job hunting or get started immediately.Business is ongoing- even during a vacation seasonTraditional conventional wisdom suggests that the summer can be a challenging time to try and find a new job- many people assume that the pace of business slows during the sweltering months of Jun e through August, and that employees (including key hiring personnel) are more focused on vacations and weekend plans than staffing concerns. Businesses also might assume that the available talent pool during the summer months may be a little thinner, and choose to defer filling new and vacant positions until the season changes. What’s the net result? A job market with fewer openings and opportunities on average than cooler months. But does that necessarily mean that starting a job search during the summer is a bad idea?The truth is, although there’s much to be said about conventional wisdom, it isn’t always right. Like most things in the professional world, trends change over time. Many aggressive and innovative businesses not only fail to slow down operations in the summer, they actually ramp them up- especially if there’s a seasonal element to their industry. Also, there’s no denying an immediate need, and if an open position absolutely needs to be filled ASAP, you can count on businesses conducting a hard-target search for the right person- even during the hot summer months. Also, seasonal and part-time employment (as well as contract work) are more resilient to seasonal shifts, so if you’re on the lookout for these types of opportunities then there’s no reason not to start searching in the summertime. In fact, many employers ramp up short-term hiring during the summer months to offset full-time staff summer vacations, so keep an eye out for growth in these opportunities.There’s more opportunity to shineHere’s another good reason to consider summertime job searching- remember earlier when we mentioned that the available talent pool tends to shrink during the summer months? This temporary decrease in job seekers may mean that there’s less competition for the positions you’d be applying for. Furthermore, fewer active people searching for jobs may mean that you’ll get more att ention from recruiters and employment agencies, should you consider using their services. Who knew that conducting a job search in the summer may actually be a wise and strategic move?So, what’s the bottom line when it comes to job searching in the summer? The reality is that it really depends on your situation- your target industry, position, experience level, city, and luck all factor into how effective a potential job hunt will be during the months of June through August. But even if there are  fewer  opportunities available in the summer, that doesn’t mean there are no opportunities, and those who stay serious, focused, and committed during the summer months are most likely to be successful. Will you be among them?